Tummy Tuck Risks and Safety

Abdominoplasty, commonly known as tummy tuck, is one of the major body contouring aesthetics procedures designed to create a tighter and flatter abdomen. The procedure should ideally be performed by an experienced and fully trained surgeon to minimize the risk of complications. In any case, the patient should know about the potential risks in order to make a well-considered decision.
During the pre-op consultation, the surgeon will educate the patient about all aspects of tummy tuck, and inform about the associated risks and side effects. The surgeon’s first concern will be to help the patient develop realistic expectations and be fully aware of the risks and benefits. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Fiala provides tummy tuck surgery to patients in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, FL, and surrounding locations.
 

Potential Complications

Adverse Reaction to Anesthesia
The surgeon will usually perform this procedure using general anesthesia. While the patient’s fitness to undergo anesthesia will be determined beforehand, in rare cases the patient may have a poor reaction to anesthesia. An anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will be presented in the surgery room to anticipate any problem early and address it effectively before it worsens.
 
Blood Clotting
If the patient has a tendency of clot formation, or in other rare cases, a blood clot may occur inside a blood vessel. The blood flow can be obstructed due to this condition, and in a few cases, the clot may travel to the brain, heart or lungs, posing a serious threat to the patient’s health.
 
Infection
To minimize the infection risk, the surgeon will ensure that the tummy tuck cosmetic surgery procedure is performed in a completely sterile operating environment. Following the surgery, the patient will be provided instructions to care for the incision areas, which they should diligently follow. The surgeon may prescribe antibiotics in some cases to further reduce post-operative infection risk.
 
Delayed Healing
In case of a full traditional abdominoplasty, it will usually take about four to six weeks for the pain, tenderness, bruising and swelling to resolve. But some patients may experience slow healing and may continue to have discomfort beyond six weeks. Smoking should be strictly avoided for a few weeks before and after the surgery to minimize the risk of slow healing.
 
Unfavorable Scarring
In a full tummy tuck cosmetic surgery, some degree of scarring is unavoidable. But an experienced surgeon will be able to minimize scarring by placing the incisions in inconspicuous locations. In a few cases, the scars may still be more apparent due to various reasons. Accomplished plastic surgeon Dr. Fiala receives patients from Orlando, Altamonte Springs, FL, and nearby areas for tummy tuck.
 

Safety Information

According to a survey reported by the ASPS, tummy tuck surgery has a complication rate of less than five percent. Infection and hemorrhage are the most common risks, while hypoxia, fluid accumulation, hypotension, and pulmonary dysfunction are rare complications.
Although tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure, but the rate of complications is relatively lower than many other cosmetic surgery procedures.

For more information of the treatments and procedures offered at this Plastic Surgery Center & Orlando Medical Spa by Dr. Thomas Fiala please contact us at (407) 339-3222 or visit www.plasticsurgeryinflorida.com ; day-spa-orlando.com ; coolsculptinginorlando.com