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: ______________________________________________


