There is no exact number that fits all cases, but generally speaking, you should lose about 10% of your total body weight (for men) and 15% (for women) before having a tummy tuck (also known as a tummy lift or tummy plasty). Keep reading for more information on the common pre-op and post-op complications that you should know about before your surgery.
Risks And Complications
Just like any other major surgery, there are risks and complications that you need to be aware of before undergoing a tummy tuck. In some cases these risks and complications can be serious, and in others, they can be mild. But no matter what, they all add up and it’s important to be aware of them all before you make up your mind.
Here are some of the more common risks and complications that you need to know about before your surgery:
Risks
There are a number of risks associated with a tummy tuck, some of which are relatively minor and others of which are more serious. For example, in some cases, the incisions will be too large and the surgery will be complicated. In other cases, there is a higher risk of complications such as infections or internal bleeding. Still others may require additional surgeries after their tummy tuck to fix problems that were caused by the original surgery.
Complications
Besides the risks associated with any major surgery, there are also a number of complications that you need to be aware of after your tummy tuck. In some cases, these complications can be serious and in others, they can be mild. But no matter what, they all add up and it’s important to be aware of them all before you make up your mind.
Here are some of the more common complications that you should know about after your surgery:
Infections
One of the most dangerous complications that you need to be aware of after your surgery is infection. Just like with any other major surgery, there is a higher risk of infection in the days and weeks after your surgery. In fact, some infections are even contagious and surgeons must wash their hands carefully after performing the procedure (this is not usually a problem though since most of the infections are curable with proper antibiotics). Also, it is very important to stay away from crowds and places where you might catch a cold or flu since your body is still weak after your surgery and you are more susceptible to illnesses. In general, don’t go back to work too soon and take it easy for a few weeks to let your body heal completely.
Surgical Site Infection (SSI)
Just like any other major surgery, there is also a higher risk of surgical site infection (SSI) in the days and weeks after your surgery. In most cases, this infection is relatively harmless and can be treated with antibiotics. However, in some cases, it can be serious and even life-threatening. So it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of a surgical site infection and be sure to seek medical help immediately if you experience any of them.
Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms of a surgical site infection:
- Swelling, redness, or tenderness around the incisions
- Cessation or change in the way your skin feels
- Feeling off-balance or having dizziness or pain
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Being more irritable or anxious than usual
- Fever or chills
- Change in the color or appearance of stool
- Trouble breathing
- A sudden, severe headache
If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, it’s important to go see your surgeon as soon as possible for an evaluation. In most cases, surgical site infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics, so don’t be afraid to ask for them. But if the infection is more serious (e.g., if it is caused by staphylococcus aureus), you might need to have a different type of surgery to remove the infected tissue.
Hematomas
Another dangerous complication that you need to be aware of after your surgery is hematoma. Just like with any other surgery, there is a risk of hematoma in the days and weeks after your surgery. In most cases, these hematomas are harmless and don’t require any special treatment other than watching them carefully for any signs of expansion or rupture. Sometimes though, they can be serious and even life-threatening. So care should be taken when handling blood-rich fluids (e.g., blood, milk, or urine) in the days and weeks after your surgery.
Anastomosis (Stoma)
Anastomosis (also known as stoma) is another dangerous complication that you need to be aware of after your surgery. Just like any other major surgery, there is a higher risk of anastomosis in the days and weeks after your surgery. Anastomosis is when the intestine is connected after the incisions are closed. In some cases, this might not be a problem since the intestine will heal naturally and there is no need to worry about it. But in other cases, especially if the surgeon had to cut a long section of the intestine, anastomosis can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. So it’s important to be aware of this risk before you make up your mind and get the surgery.
Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms of anastomosis:
- Uncontrollable vomiting
- Bloody diarrhea
- Feeling off-balance or having dizziness or pain
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Being more irritable or anxious than usual
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Decrease in the amount of weight that you can maintain
- Fecal incontinence (the inability to control the passage of stool)
Anastomosis can be very dangerous and even life-threatening, so it’s important to know the risks and take them into consideration. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to go see your surgeon immediately for an evaluation. Even if your surgeon was able to perform the procedure successfully, you might still need another surgery to reconnect the intestine during recovery (this is because your surgeon had to cut a long section of the intestine and might not have had enough material to connect it all neatly).
Seroma
Just like any other major surgery, there is also a risk of seroma in the days and weeks after your surgery. In most cases, this seroma is not dangerous and doesn’t require any special treatment other than watching it carefully for any signs of expansion or rupture. Sometimes though, seromas can be quite dangerous and even life-threatening. So it’s important to know the risks before you make up your mind and get the surgery.
Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms of a seroma:
- Swelling, redness, or tenderness around the incisions
- Cessation or change in the way your skin feels
- Feeling off-balance or having dizziness or pain
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Being more irritable or anxious than usual
- Fever or chills
- Change in the color or appearance of stool
- Trouble breathing
- A sudden, severe headache
- Change in the amount of weight that you can maintain
- Fecal incontinence (the inability to control the passage of stool)
In most cases, seromas don’t require any special treatment other than watching them carefully for any signs of expansion or rupture. If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, it’s important to go see your surgeon immediately for an evaluation. Even if your surgeon was able to perform the procedure successfully, you might still need another surgery to remove the seroma during recovery (since they sometimes expand and cause problems).