What steps can you take to avoid stroke after breast reduction?

Question

I'm physically active. I eat a lot of fresh produce. I'm sure that I'll be up walking during the days after surgery. I'm only exposed to limited amounts of second-hand smoke. I was wondering about my risk of blood clots and other serious dangers after surgery and would like to compile a list of ways to avoid these problems.

Jennifer Greer, MD · Answer

I'm a little unclear as to your question. A stroke is a development of a blood clot in the brain. Some types of surgery increase the risk of stroke (e.g. carotid endarterectomy), but most operations do not. The type of blood clot we worry about after surgery is called a deep-vein thrombosis, or DVT. This is a clot that forms in the deep veins in your legs. The danger is that the clot can dislodge and travel to your lungs, damaging the lung tissue. This is called a pulmonary embolus.  The risk of DVT increases with long immobilizations. Surgery certainly increases the risk, but so do long plane or car rides. This is something that your surgeon will discuss with you as part of the risks of surgery. Generally speaking, DVTs are exceedingly rare in a healthy patient undergoing breast reduction surgery.

What steps can you take to avoid stroke after breast reduction?

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What steps can you take to avoid stroke after breast reduction?

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Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.