How Common is Infection with Abdominoplasty?

Thank you for your questions. Infection may happen in any type surgery. It all depends on a few factors. Make sure you find a board certified plastic surgeon to preform the surgery. Always follow your surgeons post care instructions and keep your wounds clean. Although chances are low, listen to all surgeons instructions to avoid any infection.Dhaval M. Patel double board certified Plastic surgeon Hoffman EstatesBarringtonOakbrookChicago

 Infection is very unusual after surgery. In my practice is way lower than 1% of cases. Part of the reason is how we perform surgery and the setting - out of the hospital.  The important part of the healing process is also patient’s daily self-care routine. Patient needs to pay a special attention to the instruction given by the surgeon. Otherwise it can result in compromising the results of the surgery or delaying healing process.
 

Significant infections requiring IV antibiotics, surgery or admission to the hospital are rare following abdominoplasty.  Small microabscesses are infrequent, but do occur.  These usually only require probing with a q-tip and removing a small piece of dissolvable stitch under the skin.

Thankfully, severe infections are not common after abdominoplasty surgery. When they do occur, they  may commonly involve small localized abscesses at the incision line which can be addressed with drainage in the office and oral antibiotics.

If you are a nonsmoker, not too overweight, and in general good health then the chances of a serious infection with a tummy tuck are extremely small. One advantage of having it done in an accredited outpatient facility by a board-certified palstic surgeon is that it is likely they do primarily cosmetic cases, while hospitals deal with sick people and you may actually be exposed to more germs in a hospital!