Despite being regarded as a relatively safe procedure, liposuction surgery still has many risks associated with it. There are common side effects that are mild and go away with healing but there are also surgical risks that range in severity. Any surgical procedure requires anesthesia and that has its own risks depending on the particular dosage.
The most common side effects include bruising, swelling and irritation of the treated area. These conditions can be expected and are usually mild. For excessive discomfort or pain the patient may be prescribed pain medication and a compression garment minimize swelling and speed the recovery process.
Surgical risks associated with liposuction include bleeding, internal organ damage or infection of the wound. Many of the common liposuction risks have been significantly reduces with improvements in techniques. Assisted methods of liposuction such as laser or ultrasound assisted liposuction are more accurate at targeting fat cells so there is less damage to surrounding tissue.
Another serious risk is Thromboembolism which is more common after thigh liposuction due to the fat deposits in that area. This is caused by a dislodged particle of fat that escapes into the blood vessels and travels to another part of the body where it clogs arteries or other channels. It can be dangerous if the condition is not detected early.
There are also anesthesia related risks such as cardiac arrhythmia or even brain damage. Much of the risk from anesthesia comes from the administration which is why it is important to have an anesthesiologist present. Patients undergoing smaller procedures that do not require general anesthesia are at much lower risk of complications from the sedation solution.
Liposuction risks come in all shapes and forms. While most risks are rare and the common ones are not serious it is important to always go to a board certified plastic surgeon. Choosing the right surgeon can mean the difference between a successful procedure and a nightmare.
