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Can I Have Liposuction and Tummy Tuck While on Coumadin?

asked 2 years ago by Maria81 in New Jersey
Latest answer by Jaime Perez MD
Question viewed 1,378 times
Tags: age 25-34, abdomen, female, after pregnancy

I'm 28 yrs old with 2 kids. After having my babies my body is definitely not the same as before. I've had 2 Pulmonary Embolism and have been put on Coumadin.

Lately, I've been considering having Liposuction and a Tummy Tuck. Would I be able to have the surgery being that I am on a blood thinner? Or should I just completely get that thought out of my head?

19 answers to Can I Have Liposuction and Tummy Tuck While on Coumadin?

Tummy tuck and liposuction on coumadin

Your only chance of having a successful procedure would be to change from from Coumadin to lovenox, low molecular weight heparin. You would need the watchful guidance of a hematologist for this maneuver, and your risk of bleeding would be high. You would most likely need to limit the scope of your surgery considerably. No sense dying to look good!

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Tummy Tuck while on Coumadin?

As others have said, no, you cannot have a tummy tuck while on coumadin. More importantly though, is if you can have elective surgery with your history of pulmonary embolisms. In short, no, I would not recommend that you undergo elective cosmetic surgery with a history of pulmonary embolisms. Even if you were converted from coumadin to a shorter acting blood thinner like lovenox, it seems the risks are too great for someone with your history. Furthermore, I recommend that... more

Jaime Perez MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.jaimeperezmd.com

Tummy Tuck after Pulmonary Embolism

Thank you for the question and for providing a detailed medical history. Although I understand your current concerns and goals I would not suggest that you undergo any procedure unless the procedure was necessary to save your life. Otherwise, the risk-benefit ratio, given your history of pulmonary embolism (2) is unacceptably high. I hope this helps.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Tummy tuck and lipo while on blood thinners

Although medications like Lovenox can decrease the risk of blood clots after surgery, your case I feel is different as you have had two pulmonary emboli requiring you being placed on coumadin indefinitely. Placing a filter in your vena cava to avoid a blood clot going to your lungs could be done but would not help with the possibility of blood clots in your legs or developing a hematoma during the procedures you are interested. Unless they can identify some genetic blood disorder that can be... more

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Cannot have have liposuction and tummy tuck while on coumadin

You definitely cannot have liposuction and tummy tuck while you are still taking coumadin. You will need to stop at least one week in advance and have your protime and prothombin time checked to make sure they are within normal limits before your surgery. However, you need to check with the doctor who put you on the coumadin whether he will allow you to be off coumadin for one to two weeks. If not, then I would not consider having liposuction or tummy tuck done. more

James Tang, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

No elective surgery should be performed while on Coumadin

No one should undergo cosmetic surgery while on Coumadin. Given your history of 2 pulmonary emboli, you shouldn't have any cosmetic surgery. Speak with a hematologist (you probably already have) to discuss why you have had emboli. Cosmetic surgery should only be performed in those who are very low risk and you are not. Good luck!

Parham Ganchi, MD
Wayne Plastic Surgeon

Blood thinners should be avoided when having elective cosmetic surgery

Hi Maria81 - Taking unnecessary risks when having elective cosmetic surgery is not a good idea. Blood thinners should be stopped at least 2 weeks before surgery, and this should be cleared with your medical doctors and plastic surgeons first.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.BaltimorePlasticSurgery.com

Don't do it.

Your later thought is the sensical approach. Unless you are facing some life threatening indication for a tummy tuck (virtually impossible), there is no reason to undergo this procedure while on coumadin, And even in this scenario, the coumadin would be stopped.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

NO TUMMY TUCK on Coumadin and History of a Blood Clot to the Lungs (PE)

No ethical Plastic surgeon in control of his faculties and a well-functioning moral compass would perform ANY elective surgery on you while you are on Coumdin. Such surgery is VERY likely to kill you. Of more pressing interest to me, as well as to my colleagues, would be WHY a 28 year old woman sustained a blood clot to her lungs in the first place. You MUST have been worked up to see if you have either a disease process OR a congenital inherited family disorder which makes your blood clot... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck on Coumadin?

Hi there- If you were my mother, sister, or wife, there is no way I would let you consider having elective surgery (especially a tummy tuck) given your history.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Very high risk with Liposuction and Tummy Tuck while on Coumadin

As other plastic surgeon answered you, I would not recommened any invasive procedure. You have genetic predisposition for DVT and this will kill you. You need to talk to hemotologist about this and you may be a candidate for Greenfield filtre.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction should not be done if there is a history of multiple pulmonary emboli

Unfortunately, if you have already had two pulmonary embolisms, which can be fatal, you should forget the idea of subjecting yourself to such a risk, even if your coumadin can be changed temporarily to allow for surgery. It is not fair to yourself to risk possible death for an elective cosmetic procedure. There may be fat reduction techniques available in the future that become improved and standardized, such as external ultrasound. It may not t give you the same risk, but it has to be... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

No tummy tuck with two previous pulmonary emboli.

Hi. I know this will disappoint you, but you should absolutely not have a tummy tuck with your history. The coumadin is not the issue. You just have unacceptably high risk.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

No Liposuction and Tummy Tuck while on Coumadin

There is NO WAY you are a candidate for elective cosmetic surgery. I believe that no internist, hematolgist would clear you to proceed with this operation in the face of your significant medical history. Plus, even if you obtained a clearance your operation is an in hospital procedure with a 3 to 4 night stay at the minimium. Please reconsider why you are asking this type of question.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Anti-coagulation is a No No for major elective aesthetic surgery

I would recommend that you be evaluated by your own personal physician regarding the idea of undergoing elective aesthetic surgery. If it is felt that the surgery would be a significant risk, then I would "get that thought out of your head." You would need to be off anticoagulants until they have absolutely no effect and that time would be decided by your physician and your plastic surgeon. You could commence taking them again during the post-op period after the risk of post-op... more

Jack A. Friedland, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

No cosmetic surgery on Coumadin!

Please entirely give up on the idea of a tummy tuck and or liposuction!! Nobody could do this on blood thinners and since you have already had PE, you could die from another one and DVT and PE are the greatest risks of a ummy tuck. So, please just put this right out of your mind, work out and watch your weight and enjoy your children!

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Cosmetic surgery on Coumadin

The short answer to your question is no way. Coumadin is a very strong blood thinning medicine and elective surgery, especially cosmetic surgery is 100% contraindicated. If and when you get off the coumadin or any other blood thinning medicine, then MAYBE you could have cosmetic surgery. You're still at high risk because of your previous history of a pulmonary embolism. At that time, you should seek a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. You will also need to discuss this... more

Elan B. Singer, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

No simple answer for Tummy Tuck while on Coumadin

Maria; There are several things that need to discussed between your plastic surgeon and your hematologist. For example, how long will you be on Coumadin? While the recommendations have changed, if you had DVTs and PEs while you were pregnant and hypercoaguable, you may only need to be on Coumadin for 6 months or a year. If you are determined to have the surgery and need to be anticoagulated forever, you might inquire about switching to low molecular weight heparin for a brief period before... more

Robert Frank, MD
Munster Plastic Surgeon

No Tummy Tuck while on Coumadin

You definitely do not want to have a tummy tuck while on Coumadin. The bleeding from surgery would probably be uncontrollable. If you have had 2 pulmonary emboli in the past, you would be at a very high risk of having another if your Coumadin were stopped for a TT. It would seem that in your case the risks would outweigh the benefits and you should have this elective surgery.