Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Feb 28;10(2):e4196.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004196. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Prevalence of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Abdominoplasty Patients after COVID-19 Convalescence: An Alarming Flag

Affiliations

Prevalence of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Abdominoplasty Patients after COVID-19 Convalescence: An Alarming Flag

Khaled A Reyad et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Background: The incidence of thrombotic manifestations during aesthetic procedures may be overwhelming, as it may endanger patients' lives. Lipoabdominoplasty is one of the precarious aesthetic treatments with risk for thrombosis. COVID-19 convalescent patients may have an abnormally high rate of thrombotic events, which should be studied further. Patients with a history of COVID-19 infection who undergo the aesthetic procedure may have a greater risk of thrombosis than non-COVID-19 patients who undergo lipoabdominoplasty.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients who underwent lipoabdominoplasty were followed retrospectively for the occurrence of thrombotic events postoperatively and their relationship to previous COVID-19 infection. The study design comprised an examination of their medical records for prior COVID-19 infection, a history of thrombotic events before, during, or following COVID-19 infection, and D-dimer levels during and after COVID-19 infection. Thrombotic signs were studied in COVID-19 convalescent and non-COVID-19 patients following lipoabdominoplasty. The universal prophylactic measures for anticoagulation were followed.

Results: Four patients out of 37 (10.18%) had thrombotic manifestations, with a high incidence in the COVID-19 convalescent group. The occurrence rate in COVID-19 patients was 30.7%, much higher than the global rate (0.2%). The presence of D-dimers was discovered to be abundant.

Conclusion: Additional precautions should be taken to closely monitor patients with a prior history of COVID-19 infection who seek aesthetic surgery, particularly riskier procedures such as lipoabdominoplasty.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Chart showing the incidence of thrombotic manifestations after lipoabdominoplasty in non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 convalescent patients.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
The incidence of thrombotic manifestations after lipoabdominoplasty in non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 convalescent patients

References

    1. Seruya M, Venturi ML, Iorio ML, et al. . Efficacy and safety of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in highest risk plastic surgery patients. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008;122:1701–1708. - PubMed
    1. Iverson RE, Lynch DJ; American Society of Plastic Surgeons Committee on Patient Safety. Practice advisory on liposuction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004;113:1478–1491. - PubMed
    1. Broughton G, II, Rios JL, Rohrich RJ, et al. . Deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis practice and treatment strategies among plastic surgeons: survey results. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;119:157–174. - PubMed
    1. Davison SP, Venturi ML, Attinger CE, et al. . Prevention of venous thromboembolism in the plastic surgery patient. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004;114:43E–51E. - PubMed
    1. Gravante G, Araco A, Sorge R, et al. . Pulmonary embolism after combined abdominoplasty and flank liposuction: a correlation with the amount of fat removed. Ann Plast Surg. 2008;60:604–608. - PubMed