Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Liposuction

By Danielle Bee

Plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons routinely counsel clients to weigh the risks and benefits of any procedure. When weighing the risks and benefits of liposuction it is important to fully understand what the risks are. Most people understand the benefits of liposuction (removing unwanted fat, recontouring their physique, etc.). It is important to weigh these benefits against the risks of liposuction.

You should speak with your surgeon about the major risks associated with liposuction. These risks include:

Lidocaine Overdose - Lidocaine is injected into the body during liposuction, in high doses lidocaine can be toxic for some patients. The results of lidocaine overdose include drowsiness, lightheadedness, tongue shivering, convulsions, muscle twitching, and cardiac arrest, among other things. With the development of tumescent liposuction the amount of lidocaine used has been significantly reduced.

Organ Damage - The very nature of the liposuction procedure may put patients at risk for organ damage. It can sometimes be difficult for the surgeon to see how close they are getting to organs with the cannula and they may inadvertently damage an organ during the procedure. This can result in excessive bleeding, infection or death.

Pulmonary Embolism - During liposuction procedures there have been rare instances where dislodged fat has traveled to the lungs. If you have shortness of breath especially in the first few days after the liposuction procedure you should immediately call 911.

Infection - Infections can be mild or severe. Many doctors will recommend that you take antibiotics after the liposuction procedure in order to prevent infection.

Scarring, Burns, and Irregularities - It is not uncommon for patients to have contour irregularities, ultrasonic burns, or even scarring from the procedure.

Death - 3 out of every 100,000 liposuction patients will have a fatal complication. Though this is a rare occurrence it is a risk factor to consider. This factor is increased if you are having multiple procedures at the same time. Most qualified plastic surgeons have intensive screening processes for procedures such as liposuction to minimize this risk.

If you are considering liposuction there are other risks you should be aware of and speak to your surgeon about. It is important to weigh these risks when you are making a decision as to whether or not you want to receive the procedure and which specific type of liposuction procedure you want to have.

Speak with a San Francisco liposuction surgeon for more information about this body contouring procedure. A plastic surgeon can help you learn more about the latest rhinoplasty techniques and other popular plastic surgery treatments.