Risks and Benefits of Liposuction
The largest risk in liposuction is choosing a doctor who has not had the training or the experience to administer the procedure properly. Be sure to choose a board certified plastic surgeon; one who is well versed in all body-contouring procedures, including liposuction. Your plastic surgeon will help you understand the specific risks in your case. Our Liposuction Consultation Checklist can help you ask the right questions and get the right answers when you meet with him or her.
Generally, the biggest risk in any liposuction procedure is the risk of infection. Your plastic surgeon has been specifically trained to minimize this risk by following certain guidelines to keep your risk of infection down to a minimum. If you think you have an infection, you should immediately phone your doctor’s emergency contact number or 911. Signs of infections post-operatively may include: tenderness in a certain spot (at incision points/treated areas,) red streaks or redness on skin, vomiting, high fever beyond 101 degrees and chills associated with fever.
Other risks that have been reported but that happen infrequently include burns, embolisms, cardiac arrhythmia, edema, seroma, nerve compression and anesthesia-related problems. These are usually discussed in the medical literature provided by your plastic surgeon, but you should ask him about them and get satisfactory answers to your questions.
Liposuction has become one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world because most people believe that liposuction's benefit's outweigh it's risks. However, you should consult with your plastic surgeon to determine if that is true in your specific case. Individual situations and differences in anatomy, physiology and health can impact your risk profile.
Learn about the benefits of liposuction.