Liposuction - The Risks and Side Effects of the Procedure
Liposuction is a popular cosmetic surgery used to remove fat and contour the body.
A physician is able to permanently remove the fat using a cannula, a small suction device inserted under the skin.
Tumescent liposuction is one surgical technique of liposuction in which the physician first injects the area to be treated with a solution made up of a local anesthetic such as lidocaine to ease the pain and a vasoconstrictor such as epinephrine to constrict the bleeding.
The solution separates the muscle from the fatty tissue, allowing the physician more space to easily move the cannula and remove fat.
Tumescent liposuction is commonly performed and is considered a very safe surgery, however as with any surgical or cosmetic procedure, there are risks and side effects that all patients ought to be aware of.
Possible side effects include: * Skin irregularities - One of the most complained about side effects is the irregularity in the skin following the procedure.
Patients are usually left with strange depressions and unnatural dimpling in the skin.
This is usually corrected by repeating the procedure and removing more fat to smooth the area.
* Hematomas - When the incision is not drained well enough, hematomas may form.
Hematoma is a swelling of blood which forms as a result of a broken blood vessel.
* Pain - There is usually not much pain following the procedure, but if there is, it is temporary and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
* Scarring - Some people are left with scars where the incision is made.
The incisions are generally very small and unnoticeable but some, especially those with darker skin may find that their scars do not fade for several months or even years.
* Numbness - Temporary numbness of the skin in the treated area has been reported by some patients, but in most cases it disappeared in a few weeks.
* Bruising - Some patients experience painful and unsightly bruising but this is temporary and will fade after a few weeks * Swelling - As with many other surgical procedures, swelling is likely to occur in the treated areas as well as in areas that were not treated.
It is important that the patient wear any compression garment that the physician prescribes to help with the swelling mold the body.
* Rapid heart rate - Because epinephrine is used in the injected solution to help constrict the bleeding, some patients experience an increased heart rate during or following the surgery.
This is normal and the heart rate will return to normal shortly after the procedure.
Rare and serious risks include: * Allergic reaction to materials used during the procedure * Development of life threatening blood clots * Injury to abdominal organs * Excessive blood loss * Brain damage due to lack of oxygen during general anesthesia, however in most cases, liposuction is not performed under general anesthesia.
A physician is able to permanently remove the fat using a cannula, a small suction device inserted under the skin.
Tumescent liposuction is one surgical technique of liposuction in which the physician first injects the area to be treated with a solution made up of a local anesthetic such as lidocaine to ease the pain and a vasoconstrictor such as epinephrine to constrict the bleeding.
The solution separates the muscle from the fatty tissue, allowing the physician more space to easily move the cannula and remove fat.
Tumescent liposuction is commonly performed and is considered a very safe surgery, however as with any surgical or cosmetic procedure, there are risks and side effects that all patients ought to be aware of.
Possible side effects include: * Skin irregularities - One of the most complained about side effects is the irregularity in the skin following the procedure.
Patients are usually left with strange depressions and unnatural dimpling in the skin.
This is usually corrected by repeating the procedure and removing more fat to smooth the area.
* Hematomas - When the incision is not drained well enough, hematomas may form.
Hematoma is a swelling of blood which forms as a result of a broken blood vessel.
* Pain - There is usually not much pain following the procedure, but if there is, it is temporary and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
* Scarring - Some people are left with scars where the incision is made.
The incisions are generally very small and unnoticeable but some, especially those with darker skin may find that their scars do not fade for several months or even years.
* Numbness - Temporary numbness of the skin in the treated area has been reported by some patients, but in most cases it disappeared in a few weeks.
* Bruising - Some patients experience painful and unsightly bruising but this is temporary and will fade after a few weeks * Swelling - As with many other surgical procedures, swelling is likely to occur in the treated areas as well as in areas that were not treated.
It is important that the patient wear any compression garment that the physician prescribes to help with the swelling mold the body.
* Rapid heart rate - Because epinephrine is used in the injected solution to help constrict the bleeding, some patients experience an increased heart rate during or following the surgery.
This is normal and the heart rate will return to normal shortly after the procedure.
Rare and serious risks include: * Allergic reaction to materials used during the procedure * Development of life threatening blood clots * Injury to abdominal organs * Excessive blood loss * Brain damage due to lack of oxygen during general anesthesia, however in most cases, liposuction is not performed under general anesthesia.
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