Liposuction Risks

asked 2 years ago by anon
Latest answer by David Hansen, MD
Question viewed 5,051 times
Tags: complication, risk

What are the risks of liposuction? Are certain types of liposuction more likely to cause complications than others?

12 answers to Liposuction Risks

What are the Risks of Liposuction Surgery?

Liposuction risks have been greatly reduced by having undergone the procedure under local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. The advent of tumescent technique local with the micro canulas have revolutionized the procedure and resulted in amazing results and almost no blood loss at all but there are some risks still present. Dimpling and burning holes in the skin with permanent discolorations are more common with the laser liposuctions and should be avoided since it was more... more

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

Liposuction is real surgery

Liposuction has been trivialized by patients, non-plastic surgeon practitioners and the media into just a "procedure" - it is not that, it is real surgery with real risks. Have you heard ads for "lunchtime lipo"? This is ridiculous! Liposuction should be done by properly trained surgeons in accreditied facilities with anesthesia providers present. But the law allows anybody wielding a cannula to try to tempt you to go them. They will sell you on having it done... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction Safety

I was the first surgeon to teach liposuction to other doctors in the United States and have taught safe liposuction techniques in more than 20 countries around the world. When liposuction is performed in an accredited (AAAHC, JCAHCO) facility by a trained physician, who follows published clinical safety guidelines, it is a remarkably safe procedure. There are risks in any surgery; liposuction is surgery! There is no such thing as non surgical or minimally invasive Liposuction.... more

Richard L. Dolsky, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

All surgeries carry some risk

Having said that, in more than 30 years of doing liposuction I have never had any serious complication. You should see an experienced liposuction surgeon and ask him what his complication record has been. The type is of no importance: the skill of the surgeon is.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction risks

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. There are small risks of bleeding and infection that are quite rare. There are risks of temporary waviness or dimpling of the skin due to swelling. There are temporary risks of sensation changes in your skin. There is the risk of the skin not tightening up and remaining loose after the procedure. The more rare problems of a perforation into the abdomen where internal organs lie, is luckily very very rare. In experienced and well trained hands,... more

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

lvcosmeticsurgery.com

Liposuction Risks

Probably the biggest risk is choosing your surgeon carelessly or perhaps shopping just based on price. A trained and experienced surgeon, operating in a safe O.R. environment is your most important insurance against potential complications. No surgery is risk free however, even in the best of hands. The risks of liposuction are disatisfaction or disappointment with the result, infection, excessive bleeding, injury of vital organs, wound healing problems and anesthetic related complications.... more

Jon F. Harrell, DO
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Risks of liposuction

The main risk of liposuction is waviness, rippling or depressions. They are caused by a lack of skill by the surgeon in removing the fat unequally. Unfortunately, anyone with a medical license can legally perform a liposuction, so make sure your doctor had certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Be sure to ask about the doctor's redo rate.

Howard T. Bellin, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Successful Liposuction techniques

Modern liposuction surgery one of the safest surgical procedures, if done by a well trained, experienced and thorough surgeon. To achieve this safety the surgeon needs to adhere to a number of guidelines, such as impeccable technique that causes minimal blood loss and minimal tissue trauma, proper fluid management, proper monitoring and use of proper surgical facilities. Some of the complications of liposuction (other then sub-par aesthetic result) are fat embolism, fluid... more

Boris M. Ackerman, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.doctorackerman.com

Risks of Liposuction

Dr. Richard Dolsky wrote a wonderful reply. In addition, some people notice focal areas of increased sensitivity while others might have areas of numbness. Indentations and raised nodules, either from localized inflammation or underresectiton, can occur. Hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation (darker and lighter skin color) and hypertrophic / raised or keloid scars can develop from the insertion sites where the cannulae are introduced.Rapid heart beat, toxic levels of local anesthetic... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Liposuction safety

A big question, to which I can't give a blanket answer. With ANY invasive surgical procedure, there is risk. The best way to protect yourself is to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon who is professionally bound to engage only in techniques that have been deemed safe--after rigorous testing. The good news is that this procedure can be performed under local anesthesia and twilight sedation instead of general anesthesia. For the most part, recovery from liposuction is easily manageable,... more

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Types of liposuction and likelihood of complications

Yes. If you want to be safe start by asking for the best liposuction surgeon and insist that your operation be done in a AAAASF / Medicare approved facility. While there is no denying that a single knife stab wound is quite invasive. Yet, it still amazes me how commercial interests have convinced THOUSANDS of American that if this proverbial knife is replaced with a sterile, shiny, fat-vacuuming steel tube (IE cannula), and instead of being stabbed once or twice, you will be stabbed... more