Deep venous thrombosis in a 41-year-old female with May–Thurner syndrome following abdominoplasty and medial thigh lift

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a feared occurrence following body contouring surgery as it can result in pulmonary embolism. Acute presentation can range from lower extremity edema and pain to being totally asymptomatic. Surgical literature reports reveal many risk factors for developing DVT, and surgeons must risk stratify their patients to best prevent this outcome. However, there are conditions which place patients at risk that are difficult to account for when making such decisions as they can be undiagnosed and are not a part of standard screening protocols. We present a case of DVT in a 41-year-old female with undiagnosed May–Thurner syndrome following abdominoplasty and medial thigh lift for massive weight loss. The authors discuss the current literature as well as challenges faced by surgeons who strive to appropriately risk stratify their cosmetic surgery patients to avoid complications such as venous thromboembolism.