Liposuction Cost » Liposuction Risks
Liposuction Risks
Liposuction has come a long way from its introduction in the 1970s, but that doesn't mean it's now completely without risk.
Every medical procedure, be it minor or invasive, comes with the potential for complications.
That being said, liposuction safety has reached unprecedented heights and there's no need to approach cosmetic surgery with any unwarranted fear.
Risks and rewards, however, should always be weighed before committing to any medical procedure.
And understanding all the possible complications and discussing them with a doctor ahead of time can also help ease any fears and minimize individual side effects.
Understanding Possible Complications Can Minimize Risks
Below find a brief breakdown of some of the risks associated with liposution surgery, including allergies to anesthesia, blood clots, infections and blood clots.
For more detailed information, be sure to consult a Board Certified Surgeon.
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MILD SIDE EFFECTS
Certain side effects of liposuction are mild and inevitable.
As with any invasive surgery, there will be a substantial amount of swelling that follows. Liposuction often causes the treated areas as well as the ankles to swell.
While this is normally just the body’s reaction to the procedure and will settle within six months, it can be a sign of a temporarily more serious condition called thrombophlebitis, or inflammation of the veins.
This condition will disappear as the swelling is reduced, but it can cause complications while active.
Fortunately, regular follow-up appointments after liposuction allow thrombophlebitis to be monitored and health and safety maintained.
Other inevitable liposuction risks are bruising and scarring.
The area will be in pain, but the bruises will disappear within a month. And while the pain will be an annoyance, it poses no threat.
Some procedures will leave a permanent scar. Creams and ointments can minimize the appearance of the scar depending on the technique the individual cosmetic surgeon performed.
Discuss the method and the amount of scarring that will follow with the surgeon to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Liposuction has the potential to have more severe complications than swelling and bruising. These risks are much rarer, but they need to be addressed before undergoing the procedure.
ANESTHESIA
Any medical procedure that requires anesthesia involves a level of danger, albeit rare.
Whether a general anesthesic, local anesthetic, systemic anesthetic or heavy intravenous anesthetic is used, if the physician is not familiar with the pharmacology, there's a risk.
When in the hands of a properly educated physician,however, that threat almost entirely disappears.
This is why it's extremely important to ensure your doctor is certified, even if that means it costs you more for your procedure. It is much more important to have the best doctor possible than to save a few bucks. When undergoing any plastic or cosmetic surgery procedure make sure that the surgeon you are consulting are a Board Certified Surgeon by relevant organizations.
Even though it is the physician’s responsibility to ask the necessary questions and know the proper procedure, the patient also plays an important role in the safe use of anesthetics by informing the doctor of any and all medications he/she is taking and of allergies he/she may have.
Even a simple vitamin supplement has the potential to interact negatively with the anesthesia so a simple conversation beforehand can deter a fatal mistake.
Find more information about general anesthesia risks here.
BLOOD CLOTS
Blood clots are a danger with surgery and excessive surgical trauma.
It will likely form in the legs, and can be fatal if it moves into the lungs. In cases where it forms in the lungs, immediate medical attention is needed.
This risk is far more common than the risks of anesthesia, but still relatively rare.
If the blood clot in the leg is caught in time, it can be treated and the fatal threat is removed.
This is yet another reason why follow-up appointments are necessary after liposuction.
More information on blood clots.
INFECTIONS
Infections caused by liposuction are rarer than blood clots, but can be fatal if not diagnosed quickly.
They are created by an organism known as “rapid growing atypical mycobacteria.” This organism is often transferred when a surgical instrument has not been sterilized properly.
The danger of these bacteria is it is resistant to bactericidal chemical solutions - the solution often used to clean reusable surgical tools.
By sterilizing the instruments in a steam-autoclave or utilizing disposable, single-use tools, this type of infection is nearly non-existent.
Necrotizing fasciitis is another type of fatal infection associated with liposuction, but it's only a risk via two methods.
The first is if the surgical procedure penetrates the intestines without the physician’s knowledge. General anesthesia may mask the mistake, and cause a delay in diagnosis.
The second method of contracting necrotizing fasciitis is by using Reston foam to reduce bruising after the liposuction procedure.
Again, it's extremely rare the patient will become infected and the manufacturer of Reston warns against its use to treat liposuction.
BLOOD LOSS
Outdated liposuction techniques result in greater blood loss than the more modern innovations in liposuction.
The risk of blood loss is equal to the amount of liposuction performed at a single time. The more invasive the procedure, the more blood that will be lost.
One possible cause of blood loss is the risk of internal bleeding.
However, the most common reason for excessive blood loss is the use of medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin which thin the blood and impair its ability to clot normally.
Discuss the use of these medications with your doctor before the procedure.
OTHER
Because each liposuction patient/doctor combo is unique, each comes with a different set of risks.
There is a risk of injury to abdominal organs if the doctor rushes through the procedure with less caution.
A patient hooked up to an IV may experience a fluid overload called pulmonary edema.
Others may suffer hypothermia, cardiac arrhythmias, or nerve damage. These are all extremely rare risks, but they are not out of the realm of possibility.
In the medical world, liposuction is no safer or riskier than any other surgical procedure.
Most of the risks associated with liposuction are the same risks someone undergoing surgery for appendicitis or a tonsillectomy would experience.
However, the risks are often rare and not a deterrent to get liposuction.
By discussing the concerns and informing the doctor of all the necessary medical information of the patient, risks are minimized and the benefits are maximized.
Schedule a Free Liposuction Consultation with a Board Certified Surgeon in Your Area Today!
- Free Private Consultations
- Financing Options Available
- + 3,200 Board Certified US Surgeons
To schedule a Free Consultation or to learn more about your options, simply submit your information below. We will shortly thereafter contact you!
Liposuction prices will vary depending on the area(s) of the body chosen and the amount of work needed. The total price is usually broken down into a few separate costs: Surgeon fees, Facility fees, Medications, Anesthesia, Surgical garments & Medical tests.
Surgeons fees vary based on the operation required and the national average cost in 2011 was $2,859. Anesthesia fees range from $500 to $1,000. Facility fees vary based on the number of areas worked on and usually range from $600 to $1,200.