Plastic Surgeon Describes Post-Operative Standard of Care for Cosmetic Surgery Patients

Case Overview

This case involves a male patient in his mid 30’s who underwent liposuction. He was discharged soon after he was finished with the procedure. He was sent home with drains and was supposed to be monitoring blood flow through the drains. About 12 hours following his discharge, he reportedly got light headed and collapsed. The patient broke both his wrists from the fall and was taken to the hospital for surgery. The doctors discovered that there was profuse bleeding coming from his abdomen since it was never cauterized. He was stabilized, but he had to undergo extensive rehabilitation for his broken wrists.

Questions to the Plastic Surgery expert and their responses

Do you routinely treat patients similar to the one described in the case?

In my practice I do routinely treat obese patients and perform this procedure when necessary; that said, abdominoplasty is a preferred procedure for a number of reasons.

Have you ever had a patient develop the outcome described in the case?

I have had patients develop bleeding after the operation before.

What are the common complications of the procedure in question?

Generally, I use a range of methods to close up these patients' wounds, including cauterization. Because of the great risk of deep vein thrombosis in these patients postoperatively, it is normal to treat them with a blood thinner that does raise the risk of a bleed after the surgery.

What is the standard follow-up and discharge instructions?

It is important for doctors to carefully monitor postsurgical bleeding in patients such as this.

About the expert

This board certified plastic surgeon has been practicing for more than 10 years and focuses on all areas of plastic surgery including breast surgery, other aesthetic surgeries, reconstruction surgery and hand surgery. Fellowship-trained at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, he is an Associate Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at a top university medical center in Missouri and is currently the President of the St. Louis Area Plastic Surgeons. He is the author of over 60 peer-reviewed research articles and textbook chapters, and has been a featured presenter at national and international plastic surgical and medical conferences.