Higher Risk Abdominoplasty in Raleigh, NC

Abdominoplasty is a very common procedure which can help improve the appearance of the abdomen especially in women with prior pregnancies, loose skin and excess fat as well as diastases rectus.  The procedure can be performed safely in many patients but there are significant risks that have to be taken into account.  Careful selection of patients should make this a fairly routine surgery but things like DVT and pulmonary embolism, infection, wound healing complications and fluid collections can happen even in healthy patients.

Determining the suitability for this procedure should be made By consulting witha  Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.  Issues like body mass index, underlying health conditions as well as smoking status affect the decision as to whether you are healthy enough to proceed.

This 61-year-old woman desired abdominoplasty but she had pretty significant pulmonary problems including asthma that often-required steroids and she has had prior hospitalizations for this condition.  She was very motivated to have this procedure.  After clearance by her pulmonologist and maximizing her medical management, the patient underwent an abdominoplasty in the hospital setting with a planned overnight stay for monitoring.  She did very well without any postoperative complications and no pulmonary issues.

Contraindications to tummy tuck are usually somewhat relative. Selected higher risk patients can undergo this procedure as long as they are aware of the risks and proper perioperative management is followed. In some cases, a more conservative approach is taken to reduce risks.  Adding liposuction for example may increase risks so it may not be offered and combining other procedures may not be wise.   Dr. Lyle prefers to do higher risk patients in a hospital setting often recommending an overnight stay for safety reasons.