Have you long desired a tummy tuck to get rid of extra skin around your midsection? Perhaps, however, you have so far been deterred from having the procedure because you are worried about the possible complications. It's true that there is a risk of complications with any surgery. But in the case of a tummy tuck, there are a lot of things you can do to reduce your risk of complications, giving you confidence and control.
Infection
Any surgery comes with a risk of infection, and since the incisions for a tummy tuck are rather large, that risk is greater. However, infections do not just occur for no reason. Infection happens when bacteria are introduced to your wounds. If you are meticulous about keeping your incision clean, you will reduce your risk of an infection. After surgery, do not remove your bandages to "take a peek" until your doctor says it is safe to do so. Sanitize your hands thoroughly before handling your bandages, and try not to touch the incision itself.
Blood Clots
It can be tough to get up and moving after a tummy tuck. As such, some patients experience blood pooling in their legs post-surgery, and this can lead to blood clots. To reduce your risk of blood clots, you need to get active as soon as possible after your procedure. When the nurses and physical therapists encourage you to walk, do what they say — even though it is painful.
If you are overweight, it pays to really focus on losing as much weight as possible before your surgery. This will only make it easier to re-mobilize and avoid blood clots once you've had surgery.
Respiratory Irritation
There are a couple of reasons why patients may experience respiratory irritation after a tummy tuck. For one, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, which means patients are intubated for the procedure. The tube can leave your throat sore — something that is not overly concerning and that will resolve on its own within a few days. The other worry is that you may develop an infection in your lungs. This happens because patients do not always exhale fully due to the pain in their abdomen, which can allow fluid to accumulate in the lungs. To reduce your risk, make sure you sit up and lay with your head up while you're recovering. This helps you to exhale fully without so much pressure on your midsection.
To learn more about how to prevent these complications, consult with your surgeon.
Share15 January 2020
All of my life, I was picked on for having a larger nose that most other people. I had dealt with picking and torment throughout high school and college, but once I graduated from college, I decided to make a few changes to the way that I look. Some people are not so open to cosmetic procedures and gave me a hard time about my choice, but after the procedure was complete and my nose was healed, they could see why I did what I did. You can follow my story on my website. Here, you will learn what I went through before, during and after my procedure.