Dr. Jejurikar commonly
performs Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) surgery on patients from
Although very infrequent,
it is possible to bleed excessively after Tummy Tuck surgery and require another
procedure to stop the bleeding and drain the accumulated blood (hematoma). Some
patients also develop a collection of watery fluid called a seroma. A seroma can serve as a significant nuisance
postoperatively, and can interfere with the re-draping of the abdominal
skin. Seromas are usually treated by
repeated aspirations of the fluid over several weeks after surgery; sometimes,
they require placement of a drain many weeks after surgery.
A significant amount of
skin and fat is removed and rearranged during Tummy Tuck surgery. If the blood flow to a portion of skin or fat
is diminished, that tissue can die, leading to problems with normal wound
healing. If a pocket of fat dies, it tends to turn into an orange-yellow fluid
and drain from the incision. More significant pockets of dead fat can turn into
hard lumps below the skin. Death of the skin can lead to an open wound
after surgery. Usually this heals, but
it can take several weeks for final healing to occur. If the scar is thick or wide after this,
sometimes a secondary scar revision is required. The chances of skin or fat dying are markedly
increased if patients are using tobacco products.
Infections, although rare, can occur any time in the
first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. The incidence of infection can be reduced by washing the abdomen with Hibiclens
soap before surgery. Dr. Jejurikar gives
his patients detailed instructions on how to perform this the night before and
the morning of surgery.
Pulmonary embolism is quite
rare, but is the most feared risk after Tummy Tuck surgery. A pulmonary
embolism is a blood clot which has broken loose from the veins of the leg or
thigh and travels in the bloodstream to the lungs. If a clot travels to the
lungs, it can cause serious breathing problems and, in severe cases, can cause death.
Pulmonary emboli usually happen within the first 2-3 days of surgery, with the
most common symptoms being shortness of breath, a racing heart, and
fatigue. The risks of pulmonary embolism are markedly reduced by walking as
soon as possible after Tummy Tuck surgery.
In addition, anti-embolism compressive devices are placed on all
patients during Tummy Tuck surgery, and some patients also receive injectable
blood thinners. All of these treatments
in combination can help keep the risk of pulmonary embolism to a minimum.
In some patients, the scars
end up healing wider or thicker than expected.
If this is the case, several months after surgery, a scar revision may
be required to allow the incision to heal as a thin, flat and fine line.
Ultimately, all patient’s
results are enhanced if they seek treatment with an experienced, board
certified plastic surgeon. Don't hesitate to contact Dr. Jejurikar's office for additional information, or call his office at 214.827.2814 to schedule an appointment. To see before and after photos, click here. For maps and directions to Dr. Jejurikar's offices in Dallas and Plano, click here.