A Review of Venous Thromboembolism Risk, Assessment, and Prophylaxis in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, poses a significant and potentially fatal risk in surgical patients, including those undergoing aesthetic plastic surgery procedures. Despite its severity, there remains a notable lack of consensus and high-quality evidence regarding optimal VTE risk assessment and prophylaxis strategies. This review synthesizes current evidence on VTE incidence, identifies key patient and procedural risk factors, evaluates various risk assessment models employed in aesthetic plastic surgery, and discusses mechanical and pharmacological prophylaxis methods. It highlights the complexities and often contradictory findings in the literature, particularly concerning the balance between VTE prevention and the risk of bleeding complications. Recommendations are provided for clinicians to enhance patient safety in the absence of definitive, all-inclusive guidelines, emphasizing the critical need for further rigorous research to standardize VTE prevention in aesthetic plastic surgery.