Blood Clot Risk During Liposuction Recovery?

In more than 30 years of doing liposuction I have never had a patient with any serious complication from liposuction. Though each patient is told that this can occur, it is rare without a history of this problem and the use of pressure stockings during surgery.

Serious blood clots (deep venous thrombosis or DVT) that can be a threat to your health are fortunately rare after liposuction. Nevertheless, it is important to take precautions to help prevent blood clots.Before surgery, your surgeon may ask you to discontinue birth control pills as these increase the risk of blood clots. During surgery, compression hose and pneumatic sequential hose (hose that pump the blood in and out of your legs) are recommended to reduce the risk of DVT. After surgery, your surgeon may give you a daily shot to thin your blood. But the most important thing you can do is to be up moving frequently. When relaxing, frequently flex your ankles and legs -- it is the natural movement of your own muscles that helps best to prevent blood clots. The risk should greatly diminish after 3 to 4 weeks.