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!

Infection is potential complication after any surgical or non-surgical procedure.  While you can always find horror stories, do not let your neighbour's experience scare you.  Assuming your procedure will be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon in a properly accredited facility, your risk of such an relentless infection should be very small.  Follow your surgeon's pre and post-surgical instruction, avoid smoking and take care of your wounds as instructed by your surgeon to minimize the risk of infection.

Sincerely,

Martin Jugenburg, MD

Data from a large national study showed that surgical site infections, in all all patients across the board (in all types of surgery) is approximately 3%. Infections following tummy tuck surgery in healthy patients are exceedingly rare (approximately 1.5%).  Further, out of all infections, MRSA infections represent a small percentage. So, one MRSA infection in your neighbor should not change your mind when 98.5% of patients do not have any infection following a tummy tuck.  Best wishes with your surgery.

Infection after abdominoplasty is less than 1%, or one out of a hundred. The rate can be higher if your medical history includes smoking or diabetes. MRSA infections are rarer still, and may depend on where your procedure is performed. Though there are some community acquired MRSA infections, most occur in a hospital setting. Surgery in an office based facility should reduce your risk.
Best of luck,
peterejohnsonmd

Abdominoplasty is considered a clean-clean case and it carries a very small risk of post operative infection.

It is lower risk than hysterectomy.

There is certainly a risk of infection with any surgical procedure.  If permanent sutures are used, then these sutures can become infected.  However, this procedure does carry a very low overall risk of infection when compared with surgeries on the internal structures like the bowel or uterus.