Sure signs of infection after a tummy tuck
Sure signs of infection after a tummy tuck
The tummy tuck is also known as abdominoplasty in medical terms. The procedure is performed with a high success rate on both men and women nowadays. The procedure is quite complex and entails the use of one or multiple incisions that vary in length. Generally speaking, two incisions are necessary for a traditional tummy tuck. One incision will be performed on the suprapubic area and can go from one hip bone to the other and the second incision is around the belly button and needed to reposition the navel. Because the incisions can be significant and because it is a major surgery, the procedure is associated with certain risks and complications, just like any other surgery performed for aesthetic purposes or not.
A complication that can occur after any type of surgery that involves incisions is infection. An infection can occur because of two factors: either the safety protocols were not followed when the procedure was performed and the infection was contacted during surgery, or the patient didn’t follow the recommendations of the plastic surgeon for wound care and an infection develops after the surgery.
Sure signs of infection after the tummy tuck are pus coming from the incisions, incisions being swollen and red, intense pain in the abdominal area, and high fever. It is not difficult to notice these signs of infection as they can be quite intense in some cases. Generally speaking, each time we are talking about high fever after undergoing a surgical procedure, chances are infection has occurred. If you notice any or all of these signs of infection, seek medical help as soon as possible.
To avoid developing an infection after the tummy tuck, an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon will prescribe antibiotics for five days post-op. The procedure should also be performed with the patient getting antibiotics through IV. The antibiotics have a preventive purpose here to avoid infections. An infection occurring after the tummy tuck can cause delays in the healing process and trigger additional complications that could otherwise be avoided.
The sure signs of infection might be difficult to notice in a patient that wasn’t in the best physical condition before undergoing the tummy tuck, and this is the reason why your plastic surgeon should insist you are in top medical condition before undergoing such a complex surgery.
The recommendation is to have a friend or family member in the house with you after surgery to monitor your recovery for the first 24 to 48 hours and get medical help in case they notice any signs of infection. It is crucial to treat infections as fast as possible to avoid other complications such as the opening of the incisions. Oatients are advised to keep the incision site clean and dry at all times to avoid infections.
