Risks of Liposuction

All surgery brings risk including a Liposuction. A good candidate for a Liposuction is in good overall health and has the psychological stability to deal with the recovery period. There is often some post-op pain or discomfort, temporary bruising and swelling, some restriction on activity, and some work-time lost.

Recovery is straightforward when you get a Liposuction if you follow doctor’s orders

Your cosmetic surgeon will give you written instructions for how to care for yourself after a Liposuction. There’ll be such things as:

• Medications for pain or infection prevention
• Creams or lotions – to promote healing
• Special garments – to give support
• Wound care procedures
• Bed rest – for a short time only, and not for all Liposuction procedures
• Gradually increased activity – to gradually rebuild strength and promote circulation without endangering wound healing

There’ll be some follow-up appointments to monitor your Liposuction recovery, so be sure and keep them. With careful self-care and compliance with the plastic surgeon’s advice, most people have a complete Liposuction recovery and a happy outcome.

Liposuction Post-Op Complications Sometimes Happens

Serious complications after a Liposuction are rare, but if they do happen, you should notify your plastic surgeon immediately. Things to watch for after a Liposuction are:

• Sudden extra bleeding.
• A feverish temperature – this can indicate infection.
• Discoloration around the treated area, especially greenish or yellowish – another sign of infection and a sign that local blood circulation is perhaps impaired
• Increased pain – this usually accompanies infection
• Increased numbness, tingling or prickling – some of this may be expected, but notify your cosmetic surgeon if it seems to persist or increase. It could indicate nerve injury.
• Increased swelling (beyond what may be predicted by your plastic surgeon after your Liposuction procedure) – could be a hematoma forming (a pooling of blood).

A minor hematoma can be drained with a needle, but if it’s left untreated, can lead to infection and even necrosis (death) of the skin. and liposuction cost also varies accordingly.

A major hematoma, if it occurs at all, will show up in the first 12 hours or so post-op and is a medical emergency. You’ll notice pain, swelling and general agitation. Be sure and report this immediately to your plastic surgeon. Hematomas can turn into blood clots, which can then break free and circulate in the blood. This is life-threatening, but rarely happens.