Minimizing your Chances of Having Tummy Tuck Side Effects

To minimize your chances of developing complications, it is important for you to be in good health, and follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. If you are not feeling well on the day of your surgery, postpone it for another day. Give your doctor a detailed health history, including all medicines and supplements you are taking. Your doctor must know if you drink alcohol or smoke regularly. You must quit smoking two weeks prior to surgery and not start back up until after two weeks of healing. Also, it is important to eat a healthy diet and avoid too much sun exposure before the day of surgery.

Blood Clots

One complication that can happen after a tummy tuck is blood clots. It is rare, but in any surgery where general anesthesia is used longer than thirty minutes, susceptible patients may develop blood clots. When blood clots form, they can interfere with your circulation and even travel to other parts of your body, such as the brain, lungs or heart. To minimize your risk of developing this complication, it is important to give a detailed medical history and list all medications and supplements you have taken, so your doctor can properly determine your eligibility for a tummy tuck.

Change in Skin Sensations

Another potential complication that can occur is changes in skin sensation. Sometimes, a patient may experience numbness in the abdominal area, the flanks, and the pubic area after a tummy tuck. Generally, a patient can experience these sensations for three to eight months. However, it is possible to permanently lose sensation or even become permanently hypersensitive in those areas. This hypersensitiveness could include itching, tenderness, or extreme responses to cold or hot temperatures. In order to minimize these sensations, you can use moisturization, medication, or massage.

Infection

Another risk of a tummy tuck is the possibility of infection. Signs of infection include chills, fever, and sweating. Also, if the liquid draining from your incision has a greenish tint or contains pus you may have an infection. It is imperative to contact your doctor immediately if any of these signs of infection are present. It is also important to know that most infections following a tummy tuck result from patients improperly caring for their wound after surgery. You must closely follow your doctor’s instructions about how to care for your wound at home. Infection can be treated with antibiotics and increased draining of the surgery site.

Slow Healing

Slow healing is yet another risk of having a tummy tuck performed. Most patients heal within four to six weeks, but some patients who are still experiencing the symptoms of severe discomfort after six weeks are considered to be slow healers. It is rare, but sometimes slow healing can lead to skin loss due to the death of parts of the skin. Also, slow healing may lead to prominent scarring. After surgery, it is important to let your doctor know if you don’t think your wound is healing properly, so you can avoid this complication. Carefully follow all instructions that you receive from your doctor.