Blood Clots After Skin Removal Surgery: How Can You Prevent?
What to consider after skin removal surgery? How to detect the signs of blood clots after surgery.
In individuals receiving skin removal surgery, the quantity of skin or fat removed during plastic surgery and the length of the procedure both influence the likelihood of blood clots. If these issues are targeted, specialized preventative strategies and treatment can aid in preventing severe complications that could develop.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), also called a blood clot, can develop in your body’s deep veins, most frequently in your leg, as blood thickens and clumps together to form clots. That may be good if it stops you from bleeding, but it may not be good if a clot develops inside your blood vessels. It can even reach your lungs.
You can experience a serious complication during and after surgery called a blood clot. Even though a blood clot in the leg can be hazardous, blood clots have the potential to be fatal. To reduce the harm to your health, these complications must be treated right away because they are extremely significant.
What Is a Blood Clot?
Blood cells called platelets work with plasma, the liquid component of your blood, to stop bleeding and create a clot in an injured location. You are most likely familiar with scabs, which are blood clots on the skin’s surface. Your body will often dissolve the blood clot naturally once the wound has healed.
There are instances where blood clots develop inside your blood vessels without external harm. These clots are harmful because they do not naturally disintegrate. Blood flow back to the heart can be impeded by clots in your veins. Due to the accumulation of blood behind the clot, this may result in discomfort and edema.
Why It Occurs
Since you frequently spend a lot of time in bed recovering after these and other surgeries, your risk for DVT is increased. Your deep veins’ blood flow slows down when you stop moving, which can result in a clot. Other aspects of surgery that could raise your risk for blood clots include:
- How lengthy or how extensive the process was
- How you were required to stand throughout the operation
- How anesthetic is administered
The two to ten days following surgery are when blood clots are most likely to form, although chances are still good for around three months after that.
Following surgery, you may be more susceptible to developing DVT if you:
- Smoke
- Have a history of DVT; being overweight or obese
- Have close relatives who have DVT
- You are expecting to Have blood- or vein-related condition due to a disorder
- You use some medications, such as birth control and hormone therapy,
- If you possess a particular type of cancer
Blood Clots Following Surgery
Your body’s natural reaction in such circumstances is known as coagulation, which is the production of blood clots. When you cut your hand or finger, a blood clot grows in the wound to halt the bleeding and speed up the healing process.
In addition to being advantageous, these blood clots aid in limiting excessive blood loss when you are seriously injured. Almost everywhere in the body can develop a blood clot. Most blood clots are not harmful. Blood clots can, however, occasionally be hazardous. You may be more susceptible to getting severe blood clots in the lungs or brain after major surgery.
Signs of a Blood Clot Following Surgery
Any form of operation is always fraught with danger. You should keep a cautious eye out for problems including DVT and PE (pulmonary embolism). Up to 900,000 Americans could get DVT annually, and up to 100,000 could pass away from it, according to the American Society of Hematology. Many people are unaware of the signs, symptoms, and risk factors related to clots. The following are typical signs of blood clots:
Signs to Look Out For
DVT symptoms are only present in roughly half of the patients.
- Leg discomfort or soreness
- Warmth or swelling in your leg
- The skin on your leg that is red or discolored
- Veins that protrude
- Shortness of breath
- Bleeding when coughing
- Sudden chest pain
- Pain or difficulty breathing
Blood clots can form following surgery. Before surgery, your doctor will assess your risk factors and provide advice on how to avoid DVTs and PEs. Nevertheless, it’s critical to be aware of the signs and symptoms of blood clots.
Blood Clots After Surgery for Skin Removal
Even though blood clot formation after cosmetic surgery, such as skin removal, it’s a very uncommon complication, it is very hazardous. Paralysis may occur if a blood clot develops in a major artery, blocking proper blood flow to a portion of the body. The patient may experience a stroke or develop a pulmonary embolism, both of which have a chance of leading to death if a piece of the clot breaks off and travels to the brain or the lungs. Fortunately, there are certain methods for avoiding blood clots before they start.
These risks should be taken extremely seriously by every plastic surgeon and every plastic surgery patient. What can we do to avoid blood clots after circumferential body contouring? Here are some tips to follow:
- Smoking must be avoided for at least one month before surgery and one month following it. Smoking narrows blood arteries, reducing oxygenation and blood flow. Your risk of blood clots increases significantly if you smoke (even if you are not undergoing surgery).
- For at least a week prior to surgery and a week following surgery, DON’T USE CONTRACEPTIVES OR HRT. Your risk of blood clots may be increased by these substances (even if you are not undergoing surgery).
- DO continue to walk following surgery. You must always ask a family member or friend to assist you in getting to the kitchen or restroom whenever you want to eat or use the restroom. Simply said, eating in bed is not a good idea. Walking aids in the circulation of blood through your leg veins, reducing clot formation.
- Use SCDs. Mechanical pumps called sequential compression devices (SCDs) periodically compress the veins in the legs to encourage blood flow by simulating walking.
- Blood clot risk can be dramatically decreased with anticoagulants (blood thinners).
Many of the issues that arise after childbirth and/or weight reduction can be corrected by removing extra skin and fat and tightening the abdominal wall, by skin removal surgery. But make no mistake, even though body lifts and stomach tucks are considered aesthetic procedures, surgery is still surgery. Every surgery also carries hazards.
Blood clots pose the biggest threat to any excisional body sculpting treatment. There is a danger of blood clots developing in leg veins due to the immobility associated with any major surgery (particularly one that temporarily makes it more difficult to move) (deep venous thrombosis).
A clot that “breaks off” and enters the bloodstream to reach the lungs can rapidly and significantly reduce oxygen exchange. A pulmonary embolus is a medical term for this potentially fatal disease. It needs to be treated right away with oxygen and blood thinners to dissolve the clot.
Final Thoughts
Blood flow can be obstructed by a blood clot that develops in the arteries or veins. It may result in skin that is sensitive, red, or dark in color. You can have a charley horse or a tight, sore feeling in the place where the blood clot is located. Unfortunately, other diseases, such as muscle discomfort and injury, might be mistaken for these blood clot symptoms.
It’s also possible that a blood clot won’t manifest any symptoms at all. You have no way of knowing if your symptoms are brought on by a blood clot or something else. Therefore, if you experience symptoms that could be brought on by a blood clot, you should consult a doctor and get a professional evaluation. Successful therapy and long-term blood clot prevention depend on prompt treatment.
Although the effects of a blood clot after cosmetic surgery could be severe, it is quite uncommon. This danger will be considerably reduced by effective communication between the patient and the surgeon on how to best prevent clot formation, which will result in a far better outcome and recovery. At VIDA we want you to look fantastic after your surgery. But above all, we want you to stay secure!
References
How to Reduce Blood Clots after Cosmetic Surgery – Dr. Marin – Marin Aesthetics
Blood Clots During and After Surgery (verywellhealth.com)
Blood Clots During and After Surgery (verywellhealth.com)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447099/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18520191/
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-prevent-blood-clots-after-surgery#takeaway
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-does-a-blood-clot-feel-like?utm_source=ReadNext#takeaway