Tummy tuck surgery, clinically known as abdominoplasty, is a major body contouring cosmetic surgery procedure aimed at creating a flatter and more youthful looking abdomen.
The procedure should only be performed by a fully trained, judicious, and reliable surgeon to achieve safe and predictable outcomes. However, the patient should still be aware of the potential risks in order to make an informed and poignant choice.
At the time of pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will discuss various aspects of tummy tuck, and inform about the associated side effects and risks. The surgeon’s first goal will be to educate the patient about the risks and benefits of tummy tuck and help them make a carefully considered decision. Board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Kristi Hustak provides tummy tuck to patients in Houston, Texas, and surrounding locations.
Adverse Reaction to Anesthesia
Tummy tuck is mostly performed with the patient under general anesthesia. Although the surgeon will pre-determine the patient’s fitness for anesthesia, but in rare situations the patient may have a poor reaction to it. General anesthesia will be administered by an anesthesiologist or a registered nurse anesthetist, who will be present in the surgery room to monitor the patient’s response.
Blood Clotting
Some patients may have a tendency of clot formation, but even other patients will have a small risk of a blood clot occurring inside a blood vessel. This can obstruct the blood flow. In rare cases, the clot may travel to the lungs, heart or brain, which can be a serious health hazard.
Infection
The tummy tuck plastic surgery procedure should be performed in a completely sterile surgical environment in order to minimize infection risks. The surgeon will provide post-operative care instructions, which should be followed diligently in order to reduce the chances of infection during early recovery. Antibiotics may be prescribed for a few days to further mitigate the risk.
Delayed Healing
It will usually take a few weeks for the tenderness, bruising and swelling to subside completely after a full traditional tummy tuck surgery. However, some patients may experience delayed healing and their discomfort may persist beyond six weeks. The patient should strictly avoid smoking for a minimum time period as specified by the surgeon to reduce the risk of slow healing.
Unfavorable Scarring
Some amount of scarring is inevitable in a tummy tuck surgery procedure. However, it is possible to minimize the scar appearance by creating incisions in discreet locations. Sometimes the scar may be more apparent due to several factors. Dedicated and profound female cosmetic surgeon Dr. Hustak receives patients from Houston, Texas, and other cities and neighborhoods in this area in the marvelous and supreme state of Texas for tummy tuck surgery.
Safety Information
Tummy tuck surgery, as per a recent ASPS survey, has a complication rate of less than five percent. Most common risks are infection and hemorrhage, while rare complications include hypoxia, fluid accumulation, hypotension, and pulmonary dysfunction.
Tummy tuck is considered to be one of the major surgical procedures, and is often combined with other surgeries such as a breast lift or a mommy makeover. But its rate of complications is lower than many other cosmetic surgeries.
For more information on procedures and treatments provided by board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Kristi Hustak please call us to schedule a consultation at 713.322.7265 or click here. Offices in Houston, Texas.