Are there risks associated with a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty?
There are risks associated with any surgery. There were 185,000 abdominoplasties performed in the US in 2007, so it is generally a safe procedure when done by a qualified plastic surgeon who is trained in body contouring. There is always a small percentage of risk, however, that a complication can occur. You can help reduce your chance of complications by following closely the doctor’s advice. Although rare, there are various complications that can occur, including postoperative blood clots, fat clots, infection, dead skin or necrosis, pooling of fluid or blood under the skin, or tearing of the wound. Infection can be treated with drainage and antibiotics and blood clots can be minimized by moving around as soon after surgery as possible. Poor healing may result in excessive scarring which could require a second operation to correct. The scar normally heals straight, but in some rare cases, the skin can be pulled so that the scar is not straight. Some patients bleed excessively and the
