What are the Risks or Complications
Associated with Liposuction?
Liposuction Risk Factors
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.
There are safe alternatives to liposuction to improve your
appearance. A good altrnative is
NutraLuxe MD liposuction alternative system.
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.
Liposuction 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.
US Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological
Health / CDRH August 1, 2002
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