Blood clots or arteriovenous malformation - Is it safe to get a full lift if you are unaware of any clots or issues?

You should address the concerns about an AVM with your primary care doctor. If you have no history of having problems and nothing is found on physical examination and then I would not worry about it. The same applies for blood clots. Without a history of spontaneous blood clots or bleeding disorders, then a hematologist would be able to tell you whether you are at elevated risk for blood clots. All surgeries have the potential for having blood clots after them. For most normal patients, even after a lower body lift, early and frequent ambulation is all that is required to minimize the risk of blood clots. For those at elevated risk of blood clots, subcutaneous blood thinning medications can begin approximately 12 hours after the surgery and continue through the recovery period, in addition to ambulation, to keep the risk of blood clots as low as possible. Your surgeon can educate you to the signs and symptoms of blood clots and or strokes and they would be following you in your postoperative period to monitor you for those.

Dear chellechelle92,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. You might need a clearance prior to surgery. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hi Chellechelle92, Thank you for your question about blood clots or an arteriovenous malformation, and whether it is safe to get a full lift if you are unaware of any clots or issues. You have these blood clot issues evaluated by a hematologist. You may have a serious condition. Blood labs should be collected. You may even need radiographic testing to secure a final diagnosis. Once your hematologist clears you for surgery, consider consulting with a plastic surgeon. To get an accurate assessment of what exactly you need, schedule a virtual consultation. Most plastic surgeons offer free virtual consultations. After your 360 circumferential lower body lift, you should be given 2 weeks of blood thinner injection, like Lovenox, to minimize the chances of you developing a blood clot. I hope I have answered your question about blood clots or an arteriovenous malformation, and whether it is safe to get a full lift if you are unaware of any clots or issues. If you have any more questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy, please get in touch with an experienced plastic surgeon. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 150 circumferential lower-body lift surgeries and have before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced, lower-body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS, FASMBS (President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Safety is the number one priority in surgery. Visit with your primary care physician or the specialist you see for your condition and discuss your interest in plastic surgery. If you are given clearance you can then visit with a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation. If you are a candidate for the procedures extra precautions may be recommended. They could potentially include an overnight hospital stay for observation, blood thinning medications, or specialty devices such as sequential compression to aid in blood clot prevention.