Mummy makeover, having anxiety over dying, what are the risk factors for blood clots during surgery?

Your anxiety is understandable; sometimes,  despite best efforts, patients will experience  deep venous thrombosis  and/or pulmonary embolism. Risk factors include prolonged surgery,  trauma,  presence of malignancy,  contraceptive use or hormone replacement therapy...( as well as as well as other risk factors that do not pertain to elective plastic surgical procedures).

Anxiety prior to surgery is very normal; its complete elimination is usually not possible. Assuming you have chosen your plastic surgeon carefully, other important "variables" such as anesthesia provider and surgery facility will be selected based on everyone's first priority: safety. This careful selection should give you some peace of mind that you will be safe around the time of surgery. 

***Discuss your specific areas of concerns with your plastic surgeon who will be in the best position to help you calm your nerves.  Ask him/her what precaution measures are being taken to avoid thromboembolic complications. 


I ask my patients to try to be as calm as possible prior to surgery; this “calmness" tends to translate to a smoother postoperative course. You may be able to alleviate some pre operative anxiety with music, exercise, meditation, and positive/objective focus on the long term outcome/benefits etc. prior to your procedure.

Generally, patients find that they did “get worked up for nothing” after their recovery is completed.
 
 Best wishes for complication free surgery and an outcome that you will be very pleased with.

It is normal to have some concerns when your surgery day is approaching.  Please be aware that you will have an entire team with you whose number one goal is your safety.  There are multitudes of steps that your surgeon will take, and has taken, to minimize risk. You likely have been examined, had your medical history and all current medications reviewed.  The day of surgery you will be monitored closely by a trained team of specialists who will be watching to ensure you are ok.  After surgery there are many things you can do to help minimize blood clot complications.  Deep breathing exercises, early ambulation, and closely following your surgeon's instructions are just a few.  I encourage you to discuss your concerns with your surgeon.  

Your surgeon should discuss all of this with you in detail and it should also be written on your surgical consent.  Some patients are predisposed to blood clots due to medical issues.  Other factors are obesity, smoking, birth control pills or hormonal replacement therapy, length of surgery being performed, immobility and type of surgery.  Tummy tucks are the highest risk procedures we do though the risk is still very low.   Every hour the patient is asleep adds a little more risk.  Ask your doctor what precautions they are taking to prevent blood clot (stockings, sequential compression boots, positioning, limiting number of surgical hours, early mobility) and follow their post operative instructions carefully!  Your other surgeries may have been shorter.  When you are asleep at night you are still moving.  In addition, anesthesia can dilate the veins and slow blood flow.  Be sure your doctor requires a medical clearance in advance!