Tummy Tuck Risks
Although serious complications are rare, tummy tuck surgery has some risks of which you should be aware. Tummy tuck surgery is a major surgery, and as a patient, you should be completely informed about all tummy tuck risks before deciding to undergo tummy tuck surgery. To find out if tummy tuck surgery is the right choice for you, see the Tummy Tuck Candidate page.
Risks are higher in people with underlying medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, poor circulation or diabetes. People who have recently undergone other surgeries in the abdominal region are at higher risk for complications. Delayed healing can sometimes cause more prominent scarring following tummy tuck surgery. Slow healing may result in the need for a second surgery. Because of the risks of infection, if you develop a cold or any other form of temporary illness, your surgery will be postponed. Tummy tuck patients must avoid exposure to cigarette smoke. Risks greatly increase for smokers.
Standard surgery complications
The following risks accompany all major surgeries.
- Anesthesia risks (negative drug reactions)
- Collection of blood beneath the skin (hematoma)
- Collection of fluid under the skin (seroma)
- Blood clots
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Cardiac (heart) complications
- Pulmonary (lung) complications
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Persistent swelling in the legs
Tummy tuck surgery complications
The following risks accompany tummy tuck surgery in particular.
- Tissue loss
- Bleeding under the skin flap
- Poor wound healing
- Unfavorable scars or loss of skin
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Skin discoloration
- Fat necrosis
- Major wound separation
- Asymmetry of the wound
- Recurrent looseness of skin
- Pain after the procedure or damage to the nerves
Tummy tuck infection risk
During your tummy tuck surgery, your surgeon will insert one or more drains in your incision site to allow fluid to escape. Infection at the site of the drain is a possible risk. Your surgeon will give you instructions to minimize the risk of infection. The Tummy Tuck Recovery page has more information about tummy tuck drains.
Signs of infection include the following:
- Greenish tinted pus or liquid draining from the incision
- Steadily draining liquid
Infections are treatable using increased drainage and antibiotics. The presence of an infection prolongs the time needed to recover from a tummy tuck operation.
Find out more about tummy tuck surgery
For more information on tummy tuck surgery, see the tummy tuck menu items to the left. To find a tummy tuck doctor near you, use our tummy tuck surgeon locator.