A body lift surgery, as with any surgical procedure, comes with potential risks, complications and side effects. Knowing the common, possible and even rare side effects of a body lift surgery will help you understand what is going on with your body post-op body lift. The information will educate you on what to expect as a natural side effect, as well as give you the knowledge to know when you are facing a potentially dangerous side effect of the surgery and should seek medical attention immediately.
Possible Infection and Probable Pain
A full body lift surgery requires many incisions to remove excess skin, skin flaps and left over fat after an extreme loss of weight. With all of these surgical incisions, you can expect to have multiple surgical wounds that will need to be cared for properly to minimize the risk of infection. The incisions will most likely be painful; in fact, your entire body will most likely be in pain for some time after surgery. This is a common side effect of body lift surgery. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medication to help alleviate the extreme pain.
Bruising and Swelling
Bruising, swelling and tenderness to the incision sites and around will also be a common side effect of post-op body lift surgery. Some patients report tingling sensations to the surrounding areas of the incisions or possibly all over their body.
Dehiscense and Seroma
One potentially serious side effect is having the incision open up; meaning, the sutures break and the wound is open. Your surgeon will re-suture the area and will provide you with instructions for further bed rest. Another side effect is seroma. Seroma is when you experience fluid buildup around your incisions or extreme fluid buildup in your extremities. Notify your surgeon’s office for directions on what to do if this occurs. Keep in mind that some swelling is a common side effect, but if the swelling is severe, it should be reported to the surgeon promptly.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is a risk after most any surgery. A DVT is a blood clot found in the lower extremities and can be life threatening if not treated promptly. Symptoms of a DVT can mimic the common side effects of the body lift surgery itself. Some symptoms include swelling, redness and warmth to one or both lower extremities. If you had no surgery performed on your lower legs, then you should assume a DVT may be the culprit and notify your surgeon immediately. Inform your doctor and have it checked out if you have doubts.
Your surgeon will provide you with a full list of common side effects of a body lift surgery, as well as the serious and rare side effects that can arise after surgery. Never be afraid to call your surgeon with side effects that concern you.
