Liver donation and Tummy Tuck?

Question

Wondering if I can combine donating my liver with a tummy tuck? Makes sense recovery wise since I would already have tubes in my abdomen… just not sure if a medical professional would approve.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello MarieA90. Thank you for your question regarding the possibility of combining liver donation with a tummy tuck.

Combining these two procedures is highly unusual and not recommended for several reasons. Firstly, liver donation is a major surgery that involves significant recovery and potential complications. It is crucial to focus solely on the recovery from such a serious procedure without adding the complexity of a cosmetic surgery like a tummy tuck.

Additionally, the primary goal after liver donation is to ensure that both the donor and recipient recover fully. Adding a tummy tuck could complicate your recovery, increase the risk of infection, and potentially jeopardize your health. The abdominal region would already be under significant stress from the liver donation, and performing a tummy tuck simultaneously would be too much strain on your body.

It is essential to prioritize your health and recovery following liver donation. If you are considering a tummy tuck, it would be best to wait until you have fully recovered from the liver donation surgery. This way, you can safely undergo the tummy tuck with minimal risks and optimal results.

I hope this helps answer your question regarding combining liver donation with a tummy tuck. Good luck with your decision and recovery.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and especially for your kind gift of life to another person. Combining the liver donation with a tummy tuck is a terrible idea.  You would just be asking for complications. Even if you could find a plastic surgeon willing to do it, I doubt the transplant team or hospital would allow it

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Since the liver surgery is life-saving, your surgeon needs the best view. The tummy tuck incision may not provide this. Plus, your liver will need to process all the drugs given and the additional hours for the tuck may be too risky. I suggest not doing them together.  The transplant will already take enough time and adding another 3 to 4 hours of surgery does increase your risks of infections, blood clots, and pneumonia. The tuck is not worth the additional risks.

Eric W. Anderson, MD · Answer

You are correct from a recovery standpoint, however, I would advise against for a couple of reasons. The process of donating a portion of your liver is noble and generous but not without innate risk. On the chance you have a post operative complication and the surgeon needs to re-enter the surgical field any aesthetic consideration is immediately sacrificed, as it should be in a life-threatening scenario. Lastly, the incisions usually used for a partial liver resection are not compatible with standard abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) incisions, especially done at the same time. There are many different options for abdominal rejuvenation but I would definitely pursue them at a separate time!

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