Tummy Tuck - Is It Safe? What Are the Risks and Side Effects?

A tummy tuck is an elective, cosmetic procedure that is done under a general anesthetic and it has a well recognized set of risks associated with it.

The term 'safety' is relative to the individual patient's perspective. In general terms, it is a safe procedure.

The risks of the procedure related to the surgical wound include infection, wound healing problems, fluid collecting underneath the wound (seroma). The cumulative risk of these problems is about 10-15% in a non-smoking patient. These wound issues can be managed by your plastic surgeon post-operatively, and usually will not affect the long term result of the tummy tuck in a substantial way.

The risks of the procedure related to the surgery and the general anesthetic include deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and anesthetic complications. This is by no means a complete list, but the risk of these complications approaches 1/1000 cases.

For more information on abdominoplasty, take a look at my website which has an article on the topic.

Thank you for your question. It is understandable to have concerns about cosmetic surgery procedures. A Tummy Tuck is a safe procedure, but like any surgery there are risks. Common risks involving a tummy tuck include: Hematoma, inflammation, infections and thick, wide, or depressed scars. Normal side effects include: Swelling and bruising, discomfort and pain, numbness, itching, and redness of scars. Hope this helps,Dr. Newall 

As with all surgical procedures, there are inherent risks associated with a tummy tuck. However, tummy tuck, overall, is a very safe operation.
A tummy tuck is a common plastic surgery procedure to improve the look and contour of the abdomen and repair the underline muscles. When performed properly and on the appropriate patient, it is a very safe procedure.

But there can be some potential complications may include bleeding, infection, and reactions to anesthesia but complications can be minimized by consulting a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing this procedure.

Thank you for your question regarding the safety of this tummy tuck procedure. All surgeries have the risk of complications. There is no surgery that has a zero complication rate. However, when considering surgeries, the tummy tuck is relatively safe procedure compared to other procedures. Risks involved with a tummy tuck involves blood clot, pulmonary embolism, infection, wound breakdown, and need for further revision surgery, to mention just a few. These are the most common risks associated with a tummy tuck. There are other risks, however, they are much rarer. The healthier you are and the smaller your abdomen, the shorter the surgery time, and therefore, the lower the risks. As long as your pre-operative labs are normal and you are relatively healthy, I do not foresee any significantly increased risk for complications. When seeking a tummy tuck surgery, please seek a board-certified plastic which has performed hundreds of tummy tucks. If you did not find a plastic surgeon in your area, I would suggest seeking a plastic surgeon out of state. Thank you for your question regarding.
Thank you,
Dr. Timothy Katzen

Every surgical procedure involves a certain amount of risk, and it is important that you understand the risks involved. An individual's choice to undergo a procedure is based on the comparison of the risk to its potential benefit. Although the majority of patients do not experience any complications, you should discuss each of them with your plastic surgeon to make sure you understand the risks, potential complications and consequences of the procedure. Specific risks for a tummy tuck procedure may include but not limited to, infection, bleeding, haematoma, poor scarring, seroma, bruising, prolonged swelling, delayed wound healing and blood clots.  Although very rare, serious complications may occur including allergic reactions, severe illness, cardiac and pulmonary issues and potentially life threatening conditions. To help avoid and minimise the risk of these complications it is important you disclose your complete medical history including all health problems and current medications to your surgeon during your initial consultation.  Patients who are currently smoking are at greater risk of surgical and anaesthetic problems which can later lead to serious complications. It is important to refrain from smoking at least 4 weeks prior to and after surgery. As well, patients with massive weight loss, diabetes or taking certain medications for an extended period may have delayed healing issues. Every action is taken to minimise the potential for complications including the routine use of antibiotics, compression garments and stockings, early mobilisation and ensuring all pre and post operative instructions are understood and followed carefully. 

Thank you for your question. Deciding on whether or not you want to undergo plastic surgery is a big deal. It is understandable you want to know every risk or complication, which you should. Always think, will the good weigh out the bad? Here are some risks of a Tummy Tuck.-Anesthesia risks-Bleeding-Infection-Fluid accumulation)-Poor wound healing-Skin loss-Numbness or other changes in skin sensation-Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling-Unfavorable scarring-Recurrent looseness of skin-Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)-Asymmetry-Suboptimal aesthetic result-Persistent painDhaval M. Patel Double board certifiedPlastic surgeonHoffman Estates BarringtonOakbrookChicago