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Fear of Death During Tummy Tuck

asked 10 months ago by wafayousif in bahrain
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 497 times
Tags: age 25-34, 090-109 lbs, death, fear

I am 26 years old, had two c-sections, I am going to have my tummy tuck this coming Sunday 10th July. I stopped smoking since 1st June, stopped drinking since 3 weeks, no medicaI isues,I am only 48KG in a good shape. I am so scared that I'll die during my TT, i have a feeling that I will die and I cannot stop it, is that Normal? I always wanted to do it, please Advice :( I dont want my daughter to be left alone. Please let me know if anyone had the same feeling and if i am fit for the surgery.

14 answers to Fear of Death During Tummy Tuck

Anxiety about surgery

Most patients are at least a little anxious about surgery, especially if they don't have much experience with surgery. On the other hand, when I had my colonoscopy under general anesthetic, someone remarked that I did not seem nervous at all, and I was not. I have seen countless patients undergo general anesthetic, and I know that, if general anesthetic is done under the right circumstances, it is very safe. Admittedly, a colonoscopy is not a tummy tuck, but the concept... more

James Nachbar, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.plastic.org

Fear of death during tummy tuck

Your question is very common for tummy tuck patients. I don't' think women are so afraid of dying but they are more concerned for their children. They fear for their children in the extremely rare event of their death. Even with a good husband at home, women are worried about their children's' well-being. It is not uncommon for a tummy tuck patient to say right before surgery, "Just don't let me die, I have children at home". Your... more

Marcus L. Peterson, MD
Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Pre-Tummy tuck concerns

Thank you for the question. Your concerns are very common (the norm rather than the exception) with moms about to undergo tummy tucks surgery. Assuming you're working with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist the chances are extremely high that you will do very well with your operation. A few words of advice may be helpful... You are about to undergo a major operation which often involves a significant physical and emotional recovery. A few... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Fear of dying after or during a tummy tuck

Don't do it, period. Wait until this fear is gone then consider having it done. I've canceled many surgeries for that very same reason. Call me superstitious, and illogical, but I trust women's instincts. Though we'll never know whether this policy has prevented any of my patients from dying; I would rather not find out! The surgery itself is safe: Minute per minute it may be safer than being on any highway, but still it's an elective procedure postpone it. more

Ayman Hakki, MD
Washington Plastic Surgeon

Death during tummy tuck

If you cannot get the fear out of your head, cancel the surgery. the risk is not zero and even if everything is done perfectly, the risk of dvt, pe, does exist. either way quit the smoking for good; not just for the surgery. you have two small children and the smoking is more likely to kill you than the abdominoplasty

Jonathan Saunders, MD
Newark Plastic Surgeon

www.drjonathansaunders.com

Fear of upcoming tummy tuck

The two c-sections you have had have about the same risks as a tummy tuck. General anesthesia is very safe with MD anesthesiologists. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon who may recommend anti-anxiety meds or postponing your surgery until you are in a better frame of mind. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Fear of Death During Tummy Tuck

Anxiety vs fear are very different issues. Fear of death that is truly making your decision on whether to have surgery or not is an unrealistic thought that needs to be discussed in detail with your surgeon. If after this discussion you still have this issue I would recommend not doing the surgery. Just my opinion.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck apprehension

It is normal to be nervous prior to any surgical procedure, but very unlikely. You seem to be doing all the right things. If you are so nervous and apprehensive perhaps you should hold off or wait until you feel better about it. Discuss it further with your surgeon.

David Nicholas Csikai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Fear of Death During Tummy Tuck

Based on your specs your risk appears to be acceptable. your level of anxiety is not, you need to be emotionally ready. no one can guarantee anything. you've done your homework and made important concessions for safety. now its time to proceed with a clear head. if you cannot, then cancel and revisit in the future. when in doubt, sit it out. If you were my pt I would rather have you cancel, than proceed to surgery unfit.

Rafael C. Cabrera, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Death during tummy tuck

As a matter of fact, you are more likely to die in a car crash on the way to the surgery center than you are during your surgery.

J. Brian Boyd, MD
Torrance Plastic Surgeon

Death from tummy tuck highly unlikely

A tummy tuck procedure is like any major surgical procedure with inherent risks both from anesthesia and from the surgery. It is mostly done under general anesthesia and there are small risks from any general anesthesia procedure. There are risks from post operative pulmonary embolus. Early ambulation will help prevent that. However, in an otherwise healthy patient, the chances of dying from a tummy tuck procedure is highly unlikely, probably in the order of 1 in 100... more

James Tang, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Fear of death from tummy tuck

Anxiety about surgery and recovery are quite normal, however if they dominate your thoughts and alter your sleep and activity, you should change your plans, or get help. Fears out of proportion with the reality of a situation such as fear of flying need special attention. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Preop anxiety and fear of death during surgery are not the same thing

All patients have anxiety before surgery and this is balanced by the excitement of getting the result they want. Surviving is also a concern because most plastic surgery patients having a TT have children to care for. But if you have an overwhelming fear that you are going to die during the surgery, I would strongly advise that you consider NOT doing the surgery at all or waiting until your fear is less.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Anxiety Before Surgery Very Normal

It is totally normal for patients to experience anxiety before surgery. For some, it is just a slight nervousness while for others it is a full blown panic attack. There is always that fear that something will go wrong during surgery, and as a worst case scenario, the patient will die. Anything is possible, but when done under normal conditions by board certified plastic surgeons in controlled, safe enviornments, the death rates for any sort of aesthetic surgery should be... more