Tummy Tuck Q&A
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Complications - Sepsis from Tummy Tuck?
asked 1 year ago by Mommyof5 in Tupelo, MS
Latest answer by Johan E. Brahme, MD
Question viewed 336 times
Tags: complication, infection
How Likely is Sepsis from Tummy Tuck with MR? And What Can Be Done to Prevent It from Happening? I was wondering if there are prevenative steps that can be taken in order to prevent sepsis? For example are antibiotics given during and after surgery and if they are will that ensure not getting it?
13 answers to Complications - Sepsis from Tummy Tuck?
+2
Sepsis from a TT
Never heard of sepsis from a TT, but anything is possible. We use antibiotics prophylactically and your plastic surgeon probably will as well. Good luck.
+1
Sepsis after Tummy Tuck
Sepsis, or overwhelming infection, is extremely rare in any plastic surgery operation. Including Tummy tucks. I have seen two cases from Mexico, but fortunately not any from the US. We use Intravenous and oral antibiotics to prevent postoperative infection, and fortunately the incidence of infection in our operating rooms is less than 0.2 percent. Good Luck
Johan E. Brahme, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon
San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1
Sepsis After Tummy Tuck Very Unusual
Dear Mommy,
Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, after a tummy tuck is very unusual. Sepsis implies a severe systemic infection that requires hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics; and is fortunately uncommon with tummy tucks. A tummy tuck is technically categorized as a clean operation that only addresses skin, fat and the underlying rectus muscles.. The procedure is done using sterile technique, sterile instruments and antibiotics. A Board Certified Plastic...
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Richard Wellington Swift, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1
Sepsis after tummy tuck is rare.
Sepsis, an infection which has spread into the blood is very rare after tummy tuck. Some patients do develop small areas of infection along the incision line which are minor and easily treated. The prevention of infection with tummy tuck should start the morning of surgery, with the patient showering and avoiding putting anything on the skin until seen by the surgeon. The patients skin is then prepped at surgery and draped sterily. A dose of IV antibiotics...
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+1
Sepsis after Tummy tuck
As stated by most reviewers sepsis after a Tummy Tuck (TT) is very rare. Sepsis means an infection out of control spreading through the blood or systemic infection. In order to have sepsis in an otherwise healthy patient after a TT, the patient must have a wound infection that is left unattended for some time and as it progreses it eventually enters the blood stream and becomes systemic which is a very unlikely situation. Having said that, wound infections in...
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Juan A. Brou, MD
Oklahoma City Plastic Surgeon
Oklahoma City Plastic Surgeon
+1
Prevention of complications with elective surgeries is a priority for Plastic Surgeons
Sepsis is a rare and vary serious progression of the more common infections that can occur. The risk of this is extremely low Reducing the risk of infections with surgery is a goal for all Plastic Surgeons and requires a pro-active approach by the Surgeon and the patient. The use of antibiotics in the operating room is common practice and each Surgeon will have their own approach to antibiotic use after surgery. Patients that are in optimal health prior to surgery will have a lower...
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+1
Tummy tuck infectious complications are uncommon
Sepsis after a tummy tuck would be a devastating complication. Fortunately, sepsis after any surgical procedure is exceedingly rare. Small, focal wound infections and delayed wound healing do occur with some frequency after a tummy tuck- but these problems are very minor and self-correct.
+1
Infection after Tummy Tuck Surgery
I will make an assumption that MR means muscle repair. The chances of infection should probably be no more than without muscle repair. A localized infection at the incision line is not unheard of and the chances are probably in the one to a few percent range. Sepsis which is a significant blood infection making you sick all over is very rare.
Antibiotics may be given at surgery, but even doing that and continuing with them after surgery cannot guarentee that you...
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Byron D. Poindexter, MD
Reston Plastic Surgeon
Reston Plastic Surgeon
+1
Complications - Sepsis from Tummy Tuck?
Yes, intra operative IV antibiotics are the standard of care in USA. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski
+1
Possibility of Heart Valve infection due to Tummy Tuck
Regarding: "Complications - Sepsis from Tummy Tuck?
How Likely is Sepsis from Tummy Tuck with MR? And What Can Be Done to Prevent It from Happening? I was wondering if there are prevenative steps that can be taken in order to prevent sepsis? For example are antibiotics given during and after surgery and if they are will that ensure not getting it?"
Your question reminds me of my colleagues and I as Second Year Medical Students when we realized how vulnerable humans really...
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+1
Infection Following Tummy Tuck
Sepsis after a tummy tuck is very rare. I usually quote an possible infection rate of about 1 in 200 with this procedure. A wound infection which progressed to sepsis would be again very rare. The consensus is to a single dose of an antibiotic intravenously about one hour before making the incision, unless extenuating circumstatnces are present.
John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon
Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1
Infection from a tummy tuck
I have personally never had a tummy tuck infection but I have seen one from another practice in my area. It required opening the incision and extensive wound care for months. The patient was hospitalized for sepsis until the problem was recognized and drained. He came to me for sacr revision years later.
This is very rare and I persoanlly do use antibiotics until the drain is removed. Good luck.
I assume MR is Muscle Repair.
+1
Tummy tuck and sepsis
The abbreviation MR to me is mitral regurgitation. If so, you need medical clearance. But sepsis in general is very rare with tummy tucks.


