How Many Deaths Occur From Tummy Tucks?

Never had a patient with a fatal complication. However, rather than looking for statistics on the subject, make sure to research the place and the surgeon you are planning for your procedure. Following simple rules will save you from worrying about the death rate from the procedure. First of all make sure your surgeon is board certified plastic surgeon and shows many years of experience in tummy tuck surgery. Ask for the gallery-no good pictures, more likely no results. The facility should be fully accredited with hospital type safety. Make sure there is highly trained and experienced anesthesiologist on the staff. By following all the above you should feel safe about the place you choose. In our place anesthesiologist perform deep sedation rather general anesthesia - less chance for serious complications! 

Thank you for the question. The best published data I can find regarding mortality rates associated with tummy tuck surgery range from 0.02% to 0.16%.   In other words, mortality rates are extremely low. The most common cause of that is related to pulmonary embolism (blood clots that moved to the patient's lungs).





Your best bet: choose your plastic surgeon very carefully; everything else including good judgment/advice/planning, anesthesia provider and safe surgery facility will follow. 



This careful selection should give you some peace of mind that you will be safe around the time of surgery. 







Best wishes.

Hi there-

Because it is an elective procedure performed for the sole purpose of making you happier with your appearance, it really doesn't make any sense to take unnecessary risks in order to have a Tummy Tuck, right?

So, understanding that there will always be some risks to any surgical procedure, we can responsibly say to you that-

if you are a healthy person without significant medical problems, and if the circumstances surrounding your surgery are optimal (surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, accredited surgical facility, Board Certified Anesthesiologist), the risk of a significant complication during or after your tummy tuck should be very very low.


I personally believe that the common life threatening risk after abdominoplasty is ENTIRELY preventable (blood clot in the leg)- but the degree to which your risks are affected by your choices cannot be overstated.

In the right hands, your tummy tuck should be a very safe and satisfying experience (provided you are healthy and a good candidate). Good luck!