Most people think of liposuction as a safe cosmetic treatment that can eliminate unwanted bulges and produce a trimmer physique. However, it is still a surgical procedure and requires careful research and consideration.
Prior to undergoing treatment, it’s important that patients are aware of liposuction risks and complications. This knowledge will help in determining if liposuction is right for them.
Here’s what you need to know about liposuction risks and complications.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure designed to permanently remove unwanted fat from the body.
Depending on case complexity and provider preference, it can be performed using general anesthesia, IV sedation, local anesthesia, or tumescent anesthesia.
Popular treatment sites for liposuction include the abdomen, flanks, inner and outer thighs, hips, upper arms, and chin.
Liposuction Risks
Although liposuction is a fairly safe procedure, it can be especially risky if the patient is in poor health or obese, too much liposuction is performed in one day, or unrelated surgeries are combined with liposuction.
After undergoing liposuction, patients may experience bruising, swelling, numbness, tenderness, and contour irregularities. In most cases, these side effects are temporary and resolve on their own in the coming days and weeks.
However, more serious liposuction risks can include infection, bleeding, skin ulcerations, and nerve injury.
Liposuction Complications
Liposuction complications may occur during or after the procedure and can range from mild to severe. Although these issues are rare, patients should be educated about them.
Possible liposuction complications include:
- Hematoma or seroma, which occurs when blood or serum leak into a closed space
- Skin necrosis, also known as tissue death
- Adverse drug reactions to general or local anesthesia
- Nerve damage
- Pulmonary edema, which is accumulation of fluid in the lungs. It is more likely when patients are given excessive IV fluids during and after liposuction.
- Pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot that travels to the lungs
If you are considering liposuction and would like to learn more about non-surgical alternatives, please call DC Derm Docs today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with one of our highly skilled and experienced providers.
