Risk of Death from Liposuction?

A lttle history: when lipo was first introduced about 30 years ago, it was done without any tumescent type of infusion and so only small volumes could be done without too much blood loss. By adding infusion (whether wide awake, with sedation, or under general) the blood loss is much less and so larger volumes of fat could be removed. In the 1990's there was a report citing the figure you mentioned. As a result of what appeared to be an escalating incidence of serious complications, a task force was put together and they determined that the cause was often doing too much at one time. They then recommended that no more than 5000 cc's be removed as an outpatient, and the operation has become much safer now. My concern however, is that some are starting to push the limits again and we may see more problems. So the procedure should be done in an accredited facility, by an experienced surgeon, and know the limits.

Thank you for your question. Fortunately, significant complications from liposuction surgery are infrequent. Liposuction surgery is one of the two most common procedures performed by plastic surgeons. Most often this surgery is performed without experiencing any major problem.

The subject of risks and potential complications of surgery is best discussed on a personal basis with you when you visit us during your consultation and your preoperative appointment. The risks in most surgeries are similar. Some of the potential complications that may be discussed with you include hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin that may require removal), infection, changes in sensation, scarring, allergic reactions, damage to underlying structures, need for revisions, unsatisfactory results possibly necessitating additional procedures and medical risks. Other risks more specific to liposuction may include indentations and irregularities.

You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice and instructions we provide, both before and after your liposuction surgery. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double board certified Plastic surgeon Hoffman Estates BarringtonOakbrook Chicago

As all liposuction procedures performed are not reported, the true mortality rate from this procedure is possibly much lower than the early reports.
Pure tumescent liposuction, (large amounts of dilute local anesthetic injected into the fat) with an awake patient (no general anesthesia) and avoidance of doing other surgical procedures at the same time, limiting the amount of fat removed to less than 5 liters, limiting the dose of lidocaine (anesthetic) to 35 - 45 mg/kg of body weight, and ensuring that daily medication consumed by the patient doesn't interact with the local anesthetic are the conditions that provide the greatest safety to our patients.