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Should I Be on Blood Thinners After Tummy Tuck?

asked 1 year ago by lovingmesumu in K TX
Latest answer by Randy Proffitt, MD
Question viewed 306 times
Tags: embolism, lungs, medication

Hi, In 2004 I was on a plane for 4 hrs and got off and couldn't breathe so I called 911 and was hospitalized and told I had a Pulmonary Embolosim and was dehydrated. So for 6 months I got off of the blood thinners and was fine. In 07' I found out I was pregant and the dr put me on blood thinners for preventive measures. I had my baby via c section and stayed on the bt for 2 wks and have been off ever since. My question is: Should I be put on bt for my tummy tuck? Or will it hinder my reovery?

8 answers to Should I Be on Blood Thinners After Tummy Tuck?

+1

Blood thinner for abdominoplasties is very common

Some of the older literature estimated pulmonary embolism (PE) after abdominoplasty at one in 2,000 procedures.  Pulmonary embolism can be fatal.  The risk of blood thinners is bleeding and you can always have a blood transfusion if it is severe.  I routinely use blood thinners postop and compression pumps intraop with abdominoplasties.  Since you have already had a PE you are at an even higher risk of having another.
Randy Proffitt, MD

Mobile Plastic Surgeon
+1

Personal history of blood clots and need for blood thinners with tummy tuck

The risks alternatives and benefit of blood thinners versus other prophylactic measures should be discussed in consultation with a hematologist. Blood thinners may diminish your risk but they may put you at increased risk of bleeding and need for transfusion. IF non anticoagulant options are acceptable, I would recommend and prefer this option
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blood thinners after a tummy tuck

Because of your history of a PE it probably is recommendable to have a short course of lovenox over a few days in addition to your compression stockings and ted hose.  It should not alter your recovery at all, we do it for almost every tummy tuck I do nowadays.  Thanks for a good Q!
Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

www.DoctorMeade.com

+1

Blood thinners after tummy tuck

There are some patients who are genetically predisposed to clotting because they lack certain serum factors or have more viscous blood.  A hematology consult and work-up for a patient with your history would be important for any elective surgery, let alone abdominoplasty which has a higher rate of extremity clots and PE related to tightening the abdominal mucles with sutures (a regular part of the tummy tuck procedure) and the resultant raising or the intraabdominal pressure.... more
Christopher J. Schaffer, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blood thinners for abdominoplasty

First, it sounds lilke you need a full work-up if you have not dones so already. Then with guidelines discussed with your hematologist it is possible but with caution.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blood thinners and tummy tuck...

A surgeon who has had a patient with a pulmonary embolism will be very wary of the risks of another one. I never used Lovenox (blood thinner) out of concern for bleeding issues. Like most plastic surgeons I used TEDS stockings and a device called an SCD (Sequential Compression Device) to help prevent the blood clots from forming in the legs during the procedure.  Then several years ago I had 2 patients within a few months with pulmonary embolisms, and thankfully they survived. Other... more
Victor Au, MD

Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blood thinners after tummy tuck

Blood clots of the lower body and pulmonary embolism are recognized complications of abdominoplasty surgery. You would have to be considered at much higher risk. You need to consider carefully whether this is an operation you absolutely need to have. If you do then you need to be under the care of a very experienced plastic surgeon who will make sure everything possible is done to minimize the risks. Certainly postop blood thinners would have to be considered. more
Eric Pugash, MD

Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

www.vancouvercosmeticsurgery.ca

+1

Blood thinners after tummy tuck

This is a great question as tummy tucks seem to have a higher rate of blood clots in the legs (DVT) compared to other plastic surgery procedures. Since you had a pulmonary embolism (PE), a consequence of a DVT, in the past, you may be at a higher risk for having it again. Discuss this with your plastic surgeon and primary care doctor. You may need an evaluation for hypercoaguability (abnormal blood clotting). You and your surgeon should review the Caprini Risk Factors (see link... more
Karol A. Gutowski, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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