Liposuction Complications
Liposuction is a well known cosmetic surgery that sculpts the body of excessive fat around the stomach, thighs, calves, back, buttocks, face, neck and chin. However, this procedure breeds the following complications:
Liposuction surgery may cause death due to blood clotting, perforation of the bowels or abdominal wall, due to dilution of the blood, shock or excess quantity of lidocaine.
Other possible complications that could arise due to or during liposuction surgery are reaction to anesthesia or medicine, death due to blood clots, perforation of the bowels, shock or blood dilution, depression, abnormal body contour, bleeding, heart failure, infection, swelling, nerve damage or tingling, scarring, burning, permanent numbness, skin irregularities or skin death, dimples, slow healing, heavy scarring, perforation of bowel or abdominal wall, puckers, discoloration, Seroma etc.
Complications to liposuction patients can be enhanced if the procedure is conducted by unqualified or inexperienced plastic surgeons, sometimes causing deaths to the ratio of 1:5,000*. However, when dermatologists perform these procedures, the safety rate is much higher. In fact, less than one percent malpractice claims were registered against them between the period 1995-97**.
The risks to liposuction are chiefly associated with sculpting huge amounts of fat, longer duration of surgery and use of general anesthesia. However, severity of liposuction complications could be reduced, if the patient undergoes liposuction surgery with local anesthesia and use of tumescent technique. This helps in reducing the duration of the surgery and the amount of anesthetic is reduced. When the procedures are not combined and a board-certified surgeon (dermatologic) performs the surgery with a good post-operative care being given, the complications are minimal.
There are generally tow liposuction scars, each less than ¼” for each area. These scars tend to be permanent. They are made in the skin’s natural folds or placed in pubic hair or inside the navel so that they are not visible immediately. Scars can be usually seen in the bikini line, on either side of the abdomen, on the arm, under the breast, under the chin or behind the ear, on the knee in the skin folds and on the thighs.
You can help yourself to keep your scar tissue soft and light by massaging it and staying away from direct sunlight.
Despite all the risks outlined here, liposuction is known to be successful and patients have reported greater confidence and self-esteem and greater comfort in their clothes. So, until you try it, you never know.
