What to do In Case of an After Tummy Tuck Complication

Your surgeon should give you a list of instructions to follow after your abdominoplasty surgery. This usually will include numbers to call in an emergency and a list of possible complications that warrant such a phone call.

Contact your surgeon or the on-call physician immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • Bleeding from your suture lines
  • Pus or cloudy discharge from your incision areas, navel or elsewhere
  • A very foul odor from your incision areas, navel or elsewhere
  • Uncontrollable pain
  • Blisters or suture "popping"
  • Temperature over 101° F
  • Inability to urinate or defecate
  • Numbness of the arms or legs
  • Uncontrollable dizziness not related to the pain relievers

Contact your surgeon or the on-call physician AND go to the emergency room as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

  • Passing blood through urine, feces or spitting up blood
  • Abrupt and severe swelling and discoloration (This is not normal swelling, but swelling that comes on suddenly.)
  • Blackening of the skin
  • Uncontrollable vomiting
  • Loss of consciousness not related to sedatives
  • Temperature over 105° F
  • Convulsions

What to do in case of a complication:

  • STAY CALM
  • Have your emergency numbers handy and contact (or have your caregiver contact) your surgeon or the on-call physician to let them know of your problem as soon as you can.
  • If you are going to the emergency room, don't forget to tell your surgeon WHICH hospital you are going to.
  • Bring all of your medications or a list of them with you to the hospital
  • If you are going to the hospital, take a small overnight bag with a change of clothes "just in case," but do not take a lot of time to do this. Getting to the hospital is more important than anything you will bring with you.

Emergency Numbers:

Surgeon:   ___________________________________________
Emergency On-call Physician:  __________________________
Hospital:   ___________________________________________
Pharmacy:  __________________________________________
Parents:  ____________________________________________
Friend:   _____________________________________________
Other:  ______________________________________________