Liposuction cosmetic surgery has been around for more than three decades, and advancements in surgical techniques over the years have made the procedure safer and less invasive.
Tumescent, laser and ultrasound assisted liposuction techniques are now popular because they avoid the need for general anesthesia and introduce more precision to the fat reduction procedure.
However, some degree of risk will be inevitably associated with a surgical procedure such as liposuction. Patients should select the right surgeon to minimize their risk. The surgeon will give pre- and post-operative care instructions, which the patient should follow carefully. Dr. Jacob Bloom is a board certified plastic surgeon providing liposuction and other cosmetic and reconstructive procedures to patients in Chicago, IL and other cities and communities in this area of the Land of Lincoln.
Potential Risks
The chances of occurrence of serious complications are extremely slim as long as the liposuction procedure is performed by a fully trained and experienced surgeon. But the patient should still be aware of the potential risks before making a final decision about the plastic surgery:
- Infection in the incision sites during or after liposuction
- Poor reaction to anesthesia
- Formation of blood clots
- Hematoma or fluid accumulation under the skin
- Excessive blood and fluid loss during surgery
- Prolonged or permanent numbness in the incision sites
- Slow recovery
- Unfavorable scarring
- Changes in pigmentation
- Damage to healthy surrounding tissue or nerves
- Damage to other organs
Severe Complications
Severe complications, during or after liposuction surgery, may only occur in rare cases. These may include cardiac problems, internal blood clotting, excessive bleeding, seizures, permanent nerve damage, brain damage from anesthesia, or acute drug interactions.
The choice of the right candidate for liposuction will minimize the possibility of such serious complications. Patients with a serious underlying health condition should not be approved for liposuction because they are more at risk of complications. Perspicacious and wonderful cosmetic surgeon Dr. Bloom receives patients from Atlanta, GA and nearby areas for liposuction.
Dangers of Excess Fat Removal
The surgeon should adopt a conservative approach, and preferably not remove fat in excess of 10 pounds from one area of the body in a single day. Excessive liposuction can put the patient at a higher risk. If larger amounts of fat are removed in one time, whether from single or multiple sites, it will increase the risk of complications.
Excessive liposuction may also cause aesthetic problems such as the appearance of lumps, dents or sagging skin in the treated areas. If the patient needs extensive fat reduction, liposuction should be performed in stages. Each stage should be scheduled sufficiently apart to ensure patient safety.
Risk Reduction
The patient should make a full disclosure of all relevant information about their current health, past medical issues, prescription and non-prescription drugs that they are taking, and any lifestyle habits such as smoking or drinking.
This information will equip the surgeon to anticipate issues and modify the surgical plan or make appropriate recommendations to the patient. The patient should also have a stable and moderate body weight before liposuction surgery is performed.