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Tummy Tuck
Common Risks
Due to the extensive nature of these procedures and proportional to the extent of the surgery performed on an individual
patient, the risk of complications is slightly higher than other anesthetic procedures. Some possible complications are:
- Infection— Approximately 2% of patients develop an infection requiring soaks, antibiotics or drainage.
Although the vast majority are easily controlled, in rare cases a more extensive infection can require intravenous antibiotics,
hospitalization, and possible subsequent surgery.
- Bleeding, Hematoma or Seroma— With patients who avoid aspirin prior to surgery and allow themselves sufficient recovery
time to rest, the incidence of bleeding problems is very low. Drains are generally used to collect blood for 1-2 days.
Extensive bleeding under the skin flap (called hematoma) is rare, but requires immediate surgery to avoid pressure and
possible loss of skin segments. Infrequently, a clear fluid may collect, requiring needle aspiration (referred to as seroma).
Very rarely, a blood transfusion may be necessary, which carries its own attendant risks.
- Healing difficulties— Due to the extent of surgery, etc., small areas of crustiness, suture reaction, thickening of scars,
small stitch ulcers, separations, etc., may occur. These are inconveniences, but heal with time. In some cases scarring,
asymmetries and recurrent fat collections all may require smaller secondary touch-up revisions 6-12 months after surgery.
There will be additional charges for any touch-up revision surgery.
- Blood clots— Very rarely blood clots form in the legs and these can, in rare instances, pass to the lungs. Few plastic
surgeons have experienced this complications. The risk of this complication has been lessened with the use of leg wrappings,
increased mobility after surgery, shorter surgeries and improved anesthesia.
A NOTE ON SATISFACTION AND DISSATISFACTION
It is important that you work with the doctor to establish realistic appearance goals. More than seventy items contribute to
a surgical result. And with anesthetic surgery, good results are nearly achieved. When you are willing to reserve final judgment
for a period of 6 months to a year, our results are usually excellent.
Beautiful paintings and sculptures by world-renowned artists always have small imperfections, but these are rarely scrutinized.
Instead, one sees the overall beauty and mastery of the art. In order to remain natural looking, cosmetic surgery will result in
small imperfections when closely scrutinized. To avoid these, the doctor would have to use techniques such as pulling your skin
tight enough to put stress on incision line scars. Instead, we utilize an artistic approach while maintaining your safety.
We strive for a youthful, yet natural look-the mark of an artist.
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