Liposuction Dangers .. and How to Avoid? (photo)

I'm a 41 year old male and have given up hope that I will ever be able to get rid of my love handles with diet and exercise, I go to the gym 4 days a week and eat healthy. I am by NO MEANS overweight as I am 5'8 and 164 lbs. However, I have this stubborn love handle and "muffin top" problem that I need to have addressed. I am terrified of having lipo because everytime you hear of someone dying of PS it is usually of a lipo procedure! PS: there is no way I am doing lipo under just local - no way!

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by markychv in Los Angeles, CA

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Liposuction

Those deaths you refer to are most frequently related to toxicity from lidocaine and procedures performed in non-certified operating rooms. Others have been mostly do to misadventures during surgery and over aggressive liposuction but those have been much fewer. You seem to be an ideal candidate for the surgery in that your expectations are reasonable, you are not overweight, the areas of concern are localized and the skin condition looks good. The best advice you could be given is help... more

In the right hands, Liposuction is VERY safe

Hi there- By an extreme margin, the greatest variable in the determination of the safety of any liposuction procedure is who you allow to do it on you. If you are naive or dumb enough to allow an eye doctor or ER doctor to do this surgical procedure on you, your risks will undoubtedly be much higher than they need be. And believe it or not, many of the advertisements you and I are both subjected to in our respective communities for things like "no down-time" lipo or... more

Liposuction Risks ?

Fear not, the liposuction procedure you seek is safe, and routinely results in success and accomplishment of desired goals without complications, PROVIDED you seek the expertise and safety inherent in the operations of surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Seek a member surgeon of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and/or the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and you are unlikely to go wrong. Get a couple of opinions from different... more

Liposuction Risks

All liposuction surgeries do have some inherent risks, but the frequency of any life-threatening complications occurring when the procedure is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon in an accredited surgery center under general anesthesia with anesthesiologist supervision is low.

Donald Griffin, MD

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Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction risks

The biggest risk in liposuction is having the procedure performed in an unaccredited facility by a non-plastic surgeon. See a board certified plastic surgeon in consultation who can evaluate the laxity of your abdominal skin and determine whether you are a viable candidate for the procedure. Liposuction of the abdomen is usually performed under intravenous sedation anesthesia in an accredited surgery facility.

Liposuction risk

Thanks for the question, and yes, you should never approach any surgical procedure without those concerns. That said, I think if you get an experienced surgeon, board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, you will get a nice result and have it done safely. I'm with you regarding anesthesia. We do all our liposuction, other than the most minor cases, under general anesthesia. So make sure your anesthesiologist is a physician who is also board certified in his or her... more

Liposuction Candidate?

Thank you for the question and picture. Based on your picture I think you may be an excellent candidate for liposuction surgery. Assuming you are in good health, you choose a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon and have the procedure done in a fully accredited facility the chances of safe and successful procedure is extremely high. I'm with you; I prefer doing liposuction surgery under general anesthesia. Best... more

Avoiding Liposuction Dangers

Questions sometimes arise as to the safety of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery can be performed safely as long as certain criteria are met. Essentials include having the surgeon board certiifed in their given speciality. They should also hold hospital privileges to perform the same procedure. The procedure should also be performed in an accredited facility. In terms of liposuction, liposuction can be performed safely in the outpatient setting under... more

Liposuction of the love handles

Thank you for question. I understand you fears. These "horror stories" of wannabe plastic surgeons doing liposuction in their office give reputable plastic surgeons a bad name. Liposuction of the flanks is a safe and effective treatment of the love handles. Make sure you pick a board-certifed plastic surgeon who does the procedure in an accredited facility. If you have medical conditions, see your primary care doctor for medical clearance prior to undergoing any surgery. more

Liposuction - Safety and Risks

This is potentially a long and involved discussion, and your concerns are understandable. But, statistically, lipo is inherently a safe procedure. Hundreds of thousands of procedures are performed each year in this country alone, and, however unacceptable even a single complication may be, the worst ones tend to garner a disproportionate share of the publicity more rationally due them. Regardless, if you're interested in this procedure then following the usual... more