Tummy Tuck Blood Clot Risk?

I am 39 and a non-smoker. I have a tummy tuck 2 weeks ago but still fear complications. When are you "out of the woods" for such things as infection and bloot clots?

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by elvis01fan in Pasadena

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Early postoperative complications from tummy tuck

The vast majority of major complications occur or are evident at 2 weeks. Minor problems are possible and activity limitations are advised but you are likely in the clear for the most part at this point in time. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and blood clot risk

Your blood clot risk after tummy tuck should be very very low at this point. For those patients contemplating TT surgery, I advise all my patients to look for early signs of a blood clot, including swelling in one or both of the calves, any shortness of breath or difficulty or changes in breathing. Prevention of blood clots includes using compression stockings in surgery, hydrating the patient well and ambulating the patient well. Surgeries should be performed expediently in safe operating... more

Two weeks after abdominoplasty, the risk of blood clot (pulmonary embolism) is almost nil.

Most blood clots in the legs and pelvis that can cause a pulmonary embolism form during or shortly after the operation. They dislodge several days later and float to the lungs. If you were to have a pulmonary embolism, it would have occurred by now. Stay active but you don't have much to worry about relative to blood clots.

Preventing complications after surgery

Based on the information you provided, at this point in your recovery, if you have not had any complication with infection, bleeding or clotting, you should be in the clear of any serious complications that could happen after an invasive surgery. Just be sure to follow your plastic surgeons post-op instructions to minimize risks of any minor complications as well. During the first week of recovery, you are advised to move the legs to prevent clotting and to wear compression... more

Tummy tuck and blood clot risk

Tummy tucks are a popular and extremely effective way to contour the abdomen. Patients should remember that this is still a significant surgery and has the risks of other significant abdominal surgeries, including blood clots. Patients who are at risk of developing a blood clot after surgery include patients with a prior history of blood clots, women who are on birth control pills, and such women who are smokers. Regardless, in our practice we take precautions with every patient who is... more

Tummy tuck and out of the woods

By two weeks you are pretty close to being out of the woods. If the incisions are well healed and the drains are out you probably are doing great.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You are almost out of the woods

To elvis01fan, Hi! If you are doing well at two weeks, you can almost certainly rest easy. Any infection certainly would have become apparent by now. There is a very low but real risk of blood clots after a tummy tuck, and we take multiple precautions to prevent them. The key is to identify high risk patients. Most blood clots show up in the first few days after surgery; so relax!