If you google "Caprini score" you can evaluate your risk for blood clots after surgery. Things like length of surgery, use of hormones, personal or family history of clots increase your risk. Patients who score above a certain level are often counseled to take lovenox, a once daily injection for about a week. Blood clots are an uncommon but serious complication of surgery. Other forms of prevention include calf compression machines, compression stockings, and early ambulation. Read up, then discuss with your surgeon. All the best.
Thank you for your question. This is actually a controversial topic in plastic surgery. One of the biggest potential complications of tummy tuck is the risk for developing blood clots and having one go to your lungs. The consequences of this rare complication is severe and can be life threatening. This has led may plastic surgeons to prescribe blood thinning medication in the period following tummy tuck. The risk with prescribing these medications is that it increases the risk of bleeding after surgery. For this reason, many plastic surgeons will not prescribe blood thinning medication. In my practice, each individual is evaluated for their risks of developing blood clots, and we make our decision to prescribe or not prescribe blood thinners based on this evaluation. Ask your surgeon if it is necessary in your case and ask him or her to explain their thoughts. Hope this was helpful.
