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Tummy Tuck & Lipo After a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

asked 1 year ago by VegasGRL in Las Vegas, NV
Latest answer by Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Question viewed 495 times
Tags: female, c-section

I have had 3 C-Sections my last in Jan 2009 a month after I developed a Pulmonary embolism (PE)in my left lung Doctors state it was due to the Pregnancy. My question is how safe is it to have a Tummy Tuck and Lipo after this? This has been something I have wanted for sometime but have gotten mixed reviews due to the previous PE. In Addition I am a healthy non smoker 29yrs old never had any previous issues with cloting.. Thank you

16 answers to Tummy Tuck & Lipo After a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Tummy tuck and liposuction after PE

It is possible to do surgery on you but your risk is increased. It is best to see a hematologist and have a thorough workup for what caused the blood clot, if anything. Then plans can be made to minimize your risk. Without a hypercoagulability workup it would not be wise to do your surgery.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Can you have a tummy tuck after having had a pulmonary embolus

You can have a tummy tuck however you are certainly at increased risk of having another pulmonary embolus(PE). You must first determine why you had your initial PE, which you stated occurred during pregnancy. An evaluation by a hematologist would be able to determine if you have any abnormal clotting elements in your blood. They may feel it's necessary for you to have a greenfield filter or IVC filter placed before surgery. This device is placed through a blood... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

H/p PE

Once you've had this history there is a higher likelihood that you'll develop another one. Be sure to consult with an internist, your hematologist and your board certified plastic surgeon in order to see what measures you can take to avoid this to recurr in any possible way.

Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

www.DoctorMeade.com

Pulmonary embolism and tummy tuck

Having had a previous pulmonary embolism, you are at significantly higher risk to have another one. You are having an operation under general anesthesia (risk factor) and one that takes more than 1 hour (risk factor). Do you use birth control pills? Has your blood been checked for factors that cause a hypercoagulable state? There are a number of risk factors to consider. I'd start by having you see a hematologist, to evaluate if you have any of these... more

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and liposuction after a pulmonary embolism

In our practice, we tell our tummy tuck patients that our top five priorities for their surgery are patient safety, patient safety, patient safety, patient safety, and obtaining a beautiful result. Please understand that if you have had a pulmonary embolism after abdominal surgery then you may be at high risk for developing this complication again. Be as honest as possible with your plastic surgeon and inform them of your entire medical history. It is imperative that with your medical... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with prior history of blood clot (DVT/PE)

I would recommend a full evaluation by a hematologist to rule out Factor V Leiden or other clotting disorder. If you remain interested, you could undergo the procedure with anticoagulants which could thin the blood and cause bleeding requiring surgery/transfusion, or undergo the surgery under local/regional monitored anesthesia care or at a slightly increased risk with non-medical prophylaxis such as compression stocking and sequential compression devices.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck after Pulmonary Embolus

Plan your tummy tuck with both the plastic surgeon and hematologist working closely together. I would study you in advance to be sure there is no residual deep venous thrombosis, and be sure you do not have a thrombogenic diathesis (predisposition to clotting) by screening hematology laboratory assay. Then, stratify your risk (Caprini scale is the one I use), and prophylax accordingly.

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

The risk of a PE is certainly increased, but may be acceptable.

You are certainly at an increased risk for a pulmonary embolism with a previous history of such and you are now considering an operation which is one of the riskier operations for having another PE. Have a workup by a hematologist to determine the cause of your PE. Armed with that information, I would then ask your plastic surgeon and hematologist to give you a percentage chance of having another PE, assuming that you would be on an anticoagulant after surgery. The risk may be so low... more

George Sanders, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck

I think you need to determine how much you want a tummy tuck. You have a higher incidence of another PE with the abdomnopasty.

Shahin Javaheri, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty and past blood clots in legs or lungs

Given your past history of PE, you will be at risk for a recurrence. This can be minimized by having a blood thinner after surgery, by doing the surgery under sedation instead of general anesthesia, and by not staying in bed after surgery. You should be evaluated by a hematologist to make sure you don't have an underlying blood clotting disorder and that any other possible risk factors are reduced (hormonal medications & contraceptives). Keep in mind that a tummy tuck has a... more

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Pulmonary embolism

Most plastic surgeons with experience have performed abdominoplasties on patients with similar histories. In a way you are fortunate as the suspicion is high should symptoms occur. In other words, your surgeon will be very prepared. I agree that in these cases, a hematologist should have seen you to determine your relative risk to that of the rest of the population. Perhaps that has already been done. If you can avoid tightening the muscles to remove skin only, it may reduce your risk as... more

Timothy Fee, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

www.coastalcosmetic.com

Tummy tuck after a PE

I have treated one patient that had a PE just after pregnancy. She had a medical work-up by her hematologist who cleared her for breast augmentation surgery. You are at higher risk than patients that never had a PE, I would strongly consider not doing it, but if you do, you need a work-up by your doctor.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tucks after PE's

You are at increased risk of another DVT / PE and a higher risk of dying from the tummy tuck. Please go to a hematologist as Dr. Moelleken suggested to work up a possible hypercoagulable state. Also, have a venous ultrasound to be sure your veins are clean.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and pulmonary embolism

Cosmetic surgical procedures, especially tummy tuck do carry the risk of blood clots in the legs and pulmonary embolus. It is possible to do a risk analysis based on age and health history and come up with a 'score' to determine your risk for a PE. You should know that your risk will be higher after a prior episode. At the least all patients deserve compression hose, and a compression device on the legs during surgery to reduce risk. Early walking is important, and for some... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and lipo

I have had several patients that have been very similar to your case. They had a pulmonary embolism related to pregnancy. First of all, it is imperative that get medically cleared for surgery and see a hematologist to make sure they dont think there is added genetic risk for DVT (deep venous thrombosis) and PE (pulmonary embolism). If you are cleared as I suspect, you would then I think it is reasonable to perform conservative liposuction (less than 5 liters) and tummy tuck... more

James F. Boynton, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.BoyntonPlasticSurgery.com

Tummy Tuck after PE

There is a risk of thrombophlebitis and pulmonary embolism with all tummy tucks. This risk is quite low in most patients, especially if having the tummy tuck as an only procedure. With a history of previous tummy tuck, you would definitely be at an increased risk and probably should be treated with Lovenox (a blood thinner) before and after surgery. This would increase the risk of bleeding slightly. As with all procedures, you wuld need to weigh the benefits/risks. more