What is the risk of death with a tummy tuck?

This is a morbid question but the odds are always good to know.  I've read from 0.04% to 20 per 100,000 and other incidences.  It is important to know that the deaths are predominantly from clots after surgery that start in the legs and can propagate to other parts.  This is typically due to immobility and lack of proper prevention.  Discuss these topics with your board certified plastic surgeon as he has likely spent a considerable amount of time thinking over this topic for you at his/her many continuing medical education meetings.  There have been many recent updates on this topic.  Best wishes,

Probably the most feared fatal complication related to TT surgery is a venous thromboembolism event resulting in a massive pulmonary embolism. We take maximal precautions to prevent this complication. The use of intra-operative sequential compression boots, using them post-operatively at home, and the use of preventative blood thinners (Lovenox) after surgery have helped to reduce the rate of this complication. Shortening the surgery time for combination cases to less than 6 hours has also helped.