The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger shares first photo after heart valve replacement surgery

12 April 2019, 12:17

The Rolling Stones frontman has posted a photo of himself walking in the park after his heart valve procedure.

Mick Jagger has shared the first photo of himself after undergoing heart valve replacement surgery last week.

The Rolling Stones were forced to postpone their North American tour dates at the start of this month amid the news their frontman Mick Jagger was unwell.

Now the Paint It Black rocker has shared a picture of himself on social media in full health, suggesting the procedure was "A walk in the park!"

See his picture here:

Previously announcing the news of Mick's ill health on Twitter, the Jumping Jack Flash rockers wrote: "Mick has been advised by doctors that he cannot go on tour at this time, as he needs medical treatment. The doctors have advised Mick that he is expected to make a complete recovery so that he can get back on stage as soon as possible."

See their full tweet below:

Mick Jagger also wrote: "I’m so sorry to all our fans in America & Canada with tickets. I really hate letting you down like this. I’m devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can. Once again, huge apologies to everyone."

Learn about Mick Jagger's condition:

According to CNN, Jagger had a heart valve replaced last week.

A source also told The Sun that: "Mick will be undergoing a non-invasive heart valve procedure. The prognosis is good and this kind of surgery has a high success rate."

Billboard since reported that the Gimme Shelter singer has completed his heart valve procedure, which involved a completion of the "transcatheter aortic valve replacement" (TAVR) which allows doctors to access a major artery using a catheter without opening the chest.

Now the Rolling Stones frontman himself has taken to Twitter to say that all is well and he is "on the mend".

He wrote: "Thank you everyone for all your messages of support, I’m feeling much better now and on the mend - and also a huge thank you to all the hospital staff for doing a superb job."

See his tweet here:

As The Mirror reports, speaking to the Sunday People, Mick's younger brother Chris has said he was lucky to be alive after his heart condition was spotted during a routine scan.

"Mick is doing OK. I spoke to him – he’s good," the brother of the famous rocker revealed. "It just showed up on a scan so it could happen to anybody, you know.

“It happened to Joe (Strummer). He came back from walking the dogs and his wife found him collapsed on the sofa. He had this valve problem."

What was wrong with Mick Jagger's heart?

It has not been confirmed exactly what was wrong with Jagger, but the British Heart Foundation website explains what causes the need for heart valve surgery.

Their website states: "If your valve does not open fully. It will obstruct the flow of blood. This is called valve stenosis or narrowing".

It adds: "If the valve does not close properly. It will allow blood to leak backwards. This is called valve incompetence, or regurgitation, or a leaky valve.

"If the valve does not close properly. It will allow blood to leak backwards. This is called valve incompetence, or regurgitation, or a leaky valve."

What is a heart valve replacement?

According to the British Heart Foundation: "Valve replacement is when the diseased valve is replaced with a new valve. The most common types of replacement valves are mechanical (artificial) valves or tissue (animal) valves."

They add: "Whether or not you have heart valve surgery, and whether the operation is a repair or a replacement will depend on many factors.

"Including: the cause of the problem, which valve is affected, how badly the valve is affected, how many valves are affected, your symptoms, and your general health."

What happens during heart valve surgery?

British Heart Foundation notes that most valve operations will see the surgeon:

1. Make an incision in the middle of the breastbone

2. Use a hurt-lung machine to pump blood round the body

3. Open up your heart to reach the affected valve

4. Perform the repair or replacement

What happens during a heart valve replacement procedure?

Less invasive methods involve a catheter inserted in the leg or chest, which is then used to access a major artery without needing to open the chest.

Mick Jagger has eight children, the most recent which he welcomed with former ballerina girlfriend Melanie Hamrick in 2016.

Watch Mick Jagger joke about Liam Gallagher not playing Manchester's Old Trafford:

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