Safety And Complications Of Liposuction

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure aimed at reducing excess fat from the body. Due to rapidly increasing cases of obesity, there are a large number of people opting for liposuction to reduce fatty appearance. Though this treatment has been now widely accepted and used and have a number of benefits, there are a few complications associated with this surgical procedure. Listed below are a few of them.

Safety of Liposuction Surgery

Enhanced Body Contours

Since this surgery is directly aimed at reducing fat from specific bulging areas, post surgery, most patients experience and notice enhanced body contours and reduced appearance of bulges and fat protrusion from awkward areas. Simply put, it enhances aesthetic appeal and beauty of the individual.

Reduced Appearance of Male Breasts

Gynecomastia, a condition also commonly known as male breasts is a seriously disturbing condition that is a cause of concern and embarrassment for many. This condition can now be easily corrected by liposuction.

Other Benefits

A greater self esteem and confidence and better performance at workplace is noticed among individuals having undergone liposuction surgery.

Complications of Liposuction Surgery

Scarring of Tissues

During the surgery, due to the use of sharp tools to make minor incisions, there may be scarring and bruising of tissues which may be visible for a few days. Other problems include baggy and ripply skin, swelling and inflammation on the affected areas and temporary loss of sensation of the affected area.
Sometimes, the area from which the fat has been extracted may change in color and appear visibly different from the rest of the area. This case is however rare. Skin necrosis is also observed in a few cases.

Buildup of Fluid

Anesthetics and other fluids are injected in the body prior to the surgery. This may cause pulmonary edema (buildup of fluid in the lungs). This may be a serious condition during the surgery.

Infections

Surgical procedures always carry with them a risk of infection due to bacterial attack during surgery, on the surgical instruments and also on the incised area. Liposuction surgeries sometimes cause extensive nerve damage that may prove to be life threatening for the patient.

Blood Clots

Blood clots or fat clots may prove to be life threatening if they travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Blood Loss

During the surgery, there may be a risk of excessive blood loss, injury to certain vital internal organs and infection. Excessive fluid and blood loss during surgery may lead to shock; however, this case is very rare.
In some cases, when extensive liposuction is carried out, and around or more than 5 liters of blood is extracted, a blood transfusion may be needed.
People suffering from heart diseases, blood clotting disorders, and pregnant women should avoid liposuction surgery as it increases the chances of the individual getting affected by certain complications and risks associated with the surgery.

Allergic Reactions

During and after the surgery, medications may need to be administered which may sometimes be allergic to the patient. Adverse allergic reactions or toxicity may sometimes even cause death of the patient.