How Many Deaths Occur From Tummy Tucks?

Deaths do occur from time to time after tummy tucks, not usually during a tummy tuck.  The most common cause of postoperative death is a pulmonary embolus resulting from a blood clot forming in your thigh.  So it is important to reduce the risk of this problem by (1) making sure you don't have a contraindication to surgery, (2) avoiding paralysis of your muscles during surgery and prone positioning, (3) using sequential compression devices during surgery, and (4) getting up walking quickly after surgery.  Keep in mind, you can develop a blood clot even without surgery.  I believe that if all these precautions are taken, your risk is not much more than your 'baseline" risk without surgery.  Other important factors are surgeon experience and a licensed facility.  Be sure to talk openly about all your concerns with your doctor.  Usually, the better informed you are the less you will worry.

It's great that you are thinking about surgery and complications, since this is something that you will want to discuss with your surgeon and feel comfortable with.  While very rare, all surgeries carry a small risk of bad complications like the ones you mention.  That is why it is so important to make sure that your surgeon is board certified  in plastic surgery, you have your procedure done in an accredited facility, and you tell him or her about your medical history and medications.   Don't feel afraid to bring up these concerns with your doctor - they should always be discussed  before surgery as part of informed consent.