Tummy Tuck/Lipo Rare Complications?

I was just wondering I have been reading a lot on "rare" complications that can happen with a tummy tuck/lipo and I guess my question is what is rare? I mean can the surgeons on this board let me know out of how many tummy tucks/lipo they have done how many serious complications they have come across in there years of surgery (blood clots, bleeding, transfusion, anesthesia issues) . I appreciate your honesty.

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by Kansascurious123 in Kansas

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Tummy tuck/lipo Complications

Rare, to me, means 1% or less for a serious complication. My experience after more than 20 years of specialty cosmetic surgery: In tummy tuck/lipo combinations, I have, fortunately so far, had no patients with major problems, including blood clots, bleeding, transfusions or anesthesia issues. Good judgement and good practice are key to reducing complications, e.g. I am with all my patients from the time they enter the operating room until they are stable in the... more

Complications and tummy tuck

Tummy tucks like any surgical procedure can have complications. It is rare to have a blood clot, blood collection, or fluid collection,but more common to have local wound healing issues that usually go on to heal without an further surgery.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck rare complications

Serious complications after abdominoplasty are very rare. Infections needing hospitalization, bleeding and blood clots are in that category and fewer than 2-3% of the patients will have them. Personally I perform ~ 150 Lateral Tension abdominoplasties per year, having done more than a 1000 procedures, I have had one patient that had bleeding, one infection needing hospitalization and two non fatal blood clots. Proper patient selection an optimizing health and care before, during and after... more

Risks of Tummy Tuck/Lipo are Very Low

Serious complications in Tummy Tuck/Lipo are very low. One of the keys is screening your patients appropriately and not operating on patients who have serious risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes and smoking. Another key is using a board certified anesthesiologist and an accredited facility. I am a board certified plastic surgeon who has been in practice 20 years. I do 50-75 tummy tuck/lipo procedures per year. I have never had a death or hospitalization and never had to transfuse a... more

Tummy Tuck/Lipo Rare Complications

Thanks for the question. I have done 50-75 abdominoplasties a year over the last 5-10 years. I have had three patients who had to go back to surgery for bleeding. One had abnormal blood clotting, and two were past or present obesity patients. All three of these were at higher than normal risk. These are the only three patients of mine who have been transfused. I have had two patients who had some skin loss. Both smoked during the post-op period, knowing the risk. One healed... more