Leg Elevation During Recovery

I'm having BR & TT. Would it be a good idea to elevate my legs while I'm recovering?

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by LadyTeri in Chesapeake, VA

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Leg elevation

Leg elevation may be helpful after your surgery to help prevent swelling in the legs. Also, following a tummy tuck, you will need to maintain some flexion at the waist for several days after surgery. However, it is also I,portent to get out of bed and walk around regularly to avoid blood clots from formind in your leg veins. I'm sure your plastic surgeon will give you very specific instructions on your post surgical routine.

Breast Reduction - Leg Elevation During Recovery

I think you have to be concerned with doing a lot more than that. Combining these procedures, particularly if being done under general anesthesia (as is likely in view of what you're having done) is associated with a risk of blood clots in the legs (referred to as Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT). If these break off and travel to the lungs it is called a pulmonary embolus, and the results, in that case, can be fatal or, if not, can cause significant morbidity. You are right... more

Walking prevents blood clots after surgery

After your surgeries you may be most concerned with blood clots forming in your leg. I generally tell my patients that they should be walking rather than worrying about elevating your legs. It is more important to pump your calf muscles like you are pressing the brakes in a car. This will keep the venous blood circulating out of them and keep blood clots from forming there and creating major problems. The simplest way of doing this is by walking, but you can also do... more

Leg elevation prevents thrombosis

yes but besides you should utilize a medium elastic and compressive legs garments and start movilization out of your bed as soon as possible

Leg elevation and breast reduction/ tummy tuck

You are having two major operations which will be performed under a general anesthetic. One of the most significant complications (which most of us fear) after a surgery like this is DVT (deep venous thrombosis, or a blood clot in your legs which can travel to your lungs). During surgery, you will likely have compression devices - "leg squeezers" -- (known as SCDs) on your legs. These devices intermittently squeeze your calves during surgery to minimize the risk of clot... more

Leg elevation after breast reduction and tummy tuck is beneficial to reduce risk of blood clots.

You are having a couple of significant operations (often done together) that will take 4 or more hours in the operating room. You can be sure your surgeon will be using some sort of anti-embolic measures to decrease the risk of blood clots. You may be sent home with compression stockings, which need to be worn properly to avoid acting like a tourniquet (all the way on, smoothly, NOT rolled down a bit). You should flex your feet when sitting or when in bed to keep your lower extremity blood... more