I want to get a mommy makeover but I have bad varicose veins, will that be a problem in terms of clotting?

Excellent question! Varicose veins themselves don’t necessarily increase your risk of blood clots during a surgery like a mommy makeover.  With that said, we always take the proper steps to help minimize your risk including SCDs during surgery: recovery compression stockings. Frequent walking after surgery and possibly the use of an oral blood thinner. During your consultation with your plastic surgeon, you will have ample time to discuss any health issues that may be a cause for concern. Your plastic surgeon will be able to evaluate the severity of your varicose veins as well as any medical condition to determine whether surgery would be safe for you. You should schedule an in-person consultation with a plastic surgeon to learn more and further discuss your risks. Best of luck!

Hello and thank you for this great question! The short answer is YES!!! Even with varicose veins you can undergo a mommy makeover! In terms of clotting you are correct in thinking that varicose veins lead to an increased risk of that. However, many precautions can be taken to minimize the risk. Having surgery under "twilight" anesthesia, which is the way that I perform all my surgeries, can reduce the risk of having clots due to different physiology compared to those people that undergo general anesthesia. General anesthesia is typically how its done in the operating rooms of hospitals. Other measures can include blood thinners, compression devices, early ambulation and calf exercises. Please make sure you are being evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon especially in light of the history of varicose veins. Hope this helps and wish you the best of luck!

As long as you are otherwise a good candidate, varicose veins should not preclude you from surgery. Make sure your doctor is aware and that they take the proper precautions. 
A visit with a board certified plastic surgeon should help you decide if the procedure is right for you.
Best of luck.

Trace357I appreciate your concerns, however varicose veins are not a contraindication to mommy makeover surgery. While they may slightly increase chances of blood clot formation during or after surgery, precautions can certainly be taken to minimize chances. Fully discuss all your medical history with your board-certified plastic surgeon and discuss precautions needed in your particular case. Good luck.

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  Depending on the severity of your varicose veins it may increase your risk of blood clot formation.  This needs to be taken into consideration with your overall medical and surgical history to determine relative risk for your particular set of mommy makeover procedures.  Be sure to only see ASPS board certified plastic surgeons in consultation for this.  Best wishes. 

All health considerations should be fully explored and determined to be optimal before proceeding with elective surgery. Your risks can be determined using the Caprini score to determine if you are a candidate for the MM.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Thanks for the question. If in a detailed discussion with your board certified plastic surgeon the risk scale calculation is sufficiently high you will be offered preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of having blood clots. This may involve compression devices or anti coagulant medication in addition. Hope this helps. 

Having severe varicose veins may increase your risk for developing blood clots, however you still can be a candidate for surgery.  I encourage you to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation and review of your medical history.  There are standard precautions taken to prevent blood clots during surgery.  Depending on your situation, extra interventions may be indicated to help lower your risk.