Tummy Tuck Mesh

A tummy tuck — also known as abdominoplasty — is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the shape and appearance of the abdomen. During a tummy tuck, excess skin and fat are removed from the abdomen. Connective tissue in the abdomen (fascia) usually is tightened with sutures as well. Tummy Tuck Mesh is a type of surgical mesh which is used in the post-operative treatment of a tummy tuck. The abdominal wall consists of skin, fat tissue, muscle and fascia. Tummy Tuck Mesh acts as a barrier between these layers to prevent them from sticking together during recovery. Tummy Tuck Mesh is made in different shapes depending on which part of the body it will be used on (abdomen, groin area or buttocks).

Tummy Tuck Mesh

Some complications can occur after your surgery, some which can be devastating. Here are six reasons why you need to call your doctor or head to the emergency room if you are having abdominal pain:

Tummy Tuck Mesh Complications Include:

Tummy Tuck Mesh Complications Include:

  • Difficulty situating properly. The mesh can shift and end up in the wrong place, leading to further complications.
  • Severe cramps and pain. Your abdomen could be extremely sensitive after surgery, so it’s important to take your pain medications as prescribed by your doctor. If you can’t tolerate any of your prescribed medications, talk to them right away! They may want to try something else or change the dosage amounts so that they’re more tolerable for you.
  • Abnormal shape of the abdomen after surgery (sometimes called “malpositioning”). This usually happens because there was not enough time for proper healing before putting on another layer of mesh material over top of what was already there from when they first did their initial tummy tuck procedure back when we were young children who didn’t know yet how things worked inside our bodies but now do so thanks largely in part due why.

Abdominoplasty

The abdominoplasty has become a popular modality for helping patients remove excess abdominal tissue both after significant weight loss or as an adjunct to it. This activity reviews the indications and contraindications for abdominoplasty, details specifics of the procedure, and reviews post-operative care and complications. This activity highlights the role of the interprofessional team in caring for patients who have undergone or who are considering undergoing abdominoplasty.

Tummy tuck mesh side effects can be extremely painful, and the pain will most likely decrease after the first few weeks. The mesh will cause more severe cramps and other symptoms when it rubs against nerves or muscles in your abdomen, causing swelling and inflammation in addition to feelings of tightness or discomfort.

Abnormal Shape of the Abdomen

Abnormal Shape of the Abdomen

Abnormal shape of the abdomen is a possible complication of a tummy tuck. A full-length mirror can be helpful for you to study your body before and after surgery. It’s always best to know what you’re getting into and to discuss concerns with your doctor beforehand. Other possible complications can include difficulty situating properly, severe cramps and pain (which may indicate infection), bleeding from internal stitching sites, or excessive swelling that results in breathing discomfort or sores on the skin surface around surgical sites (called seroma).

Excessive Scarring

While it is a normal part of surgery, excessive scarring can be a complication. If you are concerned about the amount of your scars after surgery, contact your doctor. You should also ask them what their experience level with this type of surgery is.

Having had many successful procedures, your surgeon should be able to provide reassurance that they have done many tummy tuck mesh operations and will know how much scarring you can expect.

Organ Damage

Organ Damage

If you are considering a tummy tuck, it is well worth your time to consider the potential for organ damage. The risk of organ damage during a tummy tuck surgery is low but real. The main organs that can be damaged are the intestines and bladder, kidneys, liver, gallbladder and spleen. Other areas which may experience injury include stomach tissue or pancreas.

Tummy Tuck Mesh Complications

Julian Winocour of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, and colleagues. They write, “Combined procedures can significantly increase complication rates and should be considered carefully in higher-risk patients.”

Database Shows High Risk of Major Complications after Abdominoplasty

The researchers assessed abdominoplasty complication rates and risk factors using the nationwide CosmetAssure database. CosmetAssure is an insurance program providing coverage for complications related to cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, which are typically not covered by health insurance.

The study included nearly 25,000 abdominoplasties performed between 2008 and 2013, representing about 14 percent of all procedures in the database. Abdominoplasty is done to remove excess skin and tissue from the abdomen, to create a smoother, firmer abdominal profile.

Ninety-seven percent of abdominoplasty patients were women; the average age was 42 years. Sixty-five percent of patients underwent abdominoplasty combined with other cosmetic surgery procedures.

Overall, major complications occurred in four percent of patients undergoing abdominoplasty—significantly higher than the 1.4 percent rate after other cosmetic surgery procedures. (The database didn’t include less-serious complications that can be managed in the clinic). Hematomas (blood collections) were the most common major complication, followed by infections, blood clots (venous thromboembolism), and lung-related problems.

After adjustment for other factors, the relative risk of major complications was 50 percent higher with combined procedures.

Other risk factors for major complications included male sex, age 55 years or older, and obesity. Risk was lower when abdominoplasty was performed in an office-based surgical suite, compared to a hospital or surgical center. Dr. Winocour comments, “Surgeons often refer patients with major illnesses, such as heart disease, to hospitals, which may be responsible for this observed trend in complications.”

Diabetes and smoking—two major surgical risk factors—were not associated with a significant increase in complications after abdominoplasty. “That likely reflected Board-certified plastic surgeons’ practice of not offering abdominoplasty to poorly controlled diabetics and recommending strict smoking cessation for at least four weeks before and after surgery,” Dr. Wincour adds.

The study adds to previous evidence that abdominoplasty carries a higher complication rate than other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. “Although the overall incidence of major complications is low, such complications can leave a potentially devastating cosmetic outcome and pose a significant financial burden on the patient and surgeon,” the researchers write.

They draw special attention to the risk associated with multiple procedures—especially since nearly two-thirds of patients in the database underwent other cosmetic procedures combined with abdominoplasty. Dr. Winocour and colleagues suggest that some patients at high risk of complications might be better off undergoing staged rather than combination procedures.

Bowel obstructions are dangerous and can lead to perforation.

Bowel obstructions occur when the bowels become blocked by a foreign body such as food that was not fully digested or an infection in the digestive system. Bowel obstructions can cause severe abdominal pain that may radiate out to other areas of the abdomen. Nausea and vomiting may also occur along with fever if there is an infection present in your stomach or intestines. In severe cases of bowel obstruction where there is no blood flow to your bowels (ischemia), they will die off (gangrene).

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top