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What Are The Risk Associated
With Liposuction
Risks
Most patients are pleased with the outcome of their
liposuction surgery. However, like any other medical procedure, there are risks
involved. That's why it is important for you to understand the limitations and
possible complications of liposuction surgery. Before you have liposuction, you
should be aware of these risks and should weigh the risks and benefits based on
your own personal value system. Try to avoid being influenced by friends that
have had the procedure or doctors encouraging you to do so. Decide for yourself
whether you are willing to take the risks involved in liposuction.
Take your time deciding if you are willing to accept
the risks inherent in liposuction. Because it is usually a cosmetic procedure,
and not medically necessary, there is no reason to rush. Gather as much
information as you can so that you make an informed decision about whether
liposuction is right for you. Don't believe that complications "only happen to
other people." It is important for you to understand what the risks are and
decide if you are willing to accept the possibility that it might happen to you.
Complications
- Infections.
Infections may happen after any surgery and may occur after liposuction. Some
physicians prescribe an antibiotic to all patients undergoing liposuction but
other physicians do not. It is important to keep the wound(s) clean but even
if you do, infections may sometimes occur from the surgery. Sometimes,
infections may be serious or life threatening such as in cases of necrotizing
fasciitis (bacteria eat away at the tissue) or with toxic shock syndrome, a
serious, sometimes fatal infection caused by a bacteria, that is associated
with surgery (you may have heard of toxic shock syndrome occurring in women
using tampons, also).
Embolism.
Embolism may occur when fat is loosened and enters the blood through blood
vessels ruptured (broken) during liposuction. Pieces of fat get trapped in the
blood vessels, gather in the lungs, or travel to the brain. The signs of
pulmonary emboli (fat clots in the lungs) may be shortness of breath or
difficulty breathing. If you have the signs or symptoms of fat emboli after
liposuction, it is important for you to seek emergency medical care at once.
Fat emboli may cause permanent disability or, in some cases, be fatal.
Visceral Perforations (puncture wounds in the
organs). During
liposuction, the physician is unable to see where the
canula or probe is. It is
possible to puncture or damage internal organs during liposuction. This may
happen, for instance, if the intestines are punctured during abdominal
liposuction. When organs are damaged, surgery may be required to repair them.
Visceral perforations may also be fatal.
Seroma.
After liposuction, there may be a pooling of serum, the straw colored liquid
from your blood, in areas where tissue has been removed.
Nerve Compression and Changes in Sensation.
You may experience "paresthesias" which is an altered sensation at the site of
the liposuction. This may either be in the form of an increased sensitivity
(pain) in the area or the loss of any feeling (numbness) in the area. If these
changes in sensation persist for a long period of time (weeks or months) you
should inform your physician. In some cases, these changes in sensation may be
permanent.
Swelling.
Swelling or
edema may occur after liposuction. In some cases, swelling may persist for
weeks or months after liposuction.
Skin Necrosis (skin death).
The skin above the liposuction site may become necrotic or "die." When this
happens, skin may change color and be sloughed (fall) off. Large areas of skin
necrosis may become infected with bacteria or microorganisms.
Burns.
During ultrasound assisted liposuction, the ultrasound probe may become very
hot and can cause burns.
Fluid Imbalance.
Fat tissue, which contains a lot of liquid, is removed during liposuction.
Also, physicians may inject large amounts of fluids during liposuction. This
may result in a fluid imbalance. While you are in the physician's office,
surgical center or hospital, the staff will be watching you for signs of fluid
imbalance. However, this may happen after you go home and can result in
serious conditions such as heart problems, excess fluid collecting in the
lungs or kidney problems as your kidneys try to maintain fluid balance.
Toxicity from Anesthesia.
Lidocaine, a drug that numbs the skin, is frequently used as a local
anesthetic during liposuction. You may have had a similar drug, novocaine, to
numb your mouth at the dentist. Large volumes of liquid with lidocaine may be
injected during liposuction. This may result in very high doses of lidocaine.
The signs of this are lightheadedness, restlessness, drowsiness, tinnitis (a
ringing in the ears), slurred speech, metallic taste in the mouth, numbness of
the lips and tongue, shivering, muscle twitching and convulsions. Lidocaine
toxicity may cause the heart to stop. Of course, this can be fatal. In
general, any type of anesthesia may cause complications and is always
considered a risk during any surgery.
Fatalities Related to Liposuction.
There are numerous reports of deaths related to the liposuction procedure.
Although it is difficult to be sure how often death from liposuction happens,
there are several studies that estimate how often patients undergoing
liposuction die during the procedure or as a result of it. None of the studies
is perfect so the results are just estimates.
Some of the studies indicate
that the risk of death due to liposuction is as low as 3 deaths for every
100,000 liposuction operations performed. However, other studies indicate that
the risk of death is between 20 and 100 deaths per 100,000 liposuction
procedures. One study suggests that the death rate is higher in liposuction
surgeries in which other surgical procedures are also performed at the same
time. In order to understand the size of the risk, one paper compares the deaths
from liposuction to that for deaths from car accidents (16 per 100,000). It is
important to remember that liposuction is a surgical procedure and that there
may be serious complications, including death.
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