Liposuction: Q&A

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Should I Be Worried About the Risks of Inner, Outer Thigh Liposuction and Above the Knee?

I'm 5'5" and 125 pounds. From what my doc told me, I won't be having a lot taken out, he said it's more of a sculpting procedure. My nerves are getting the best of me. I keep reading about blood clots, fat embolisms, and other anesthesia complications resulting in death. I've been under general anesthesia before with no problems, but the other risks scare me. Should I be worried?

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by dnttreadonme900

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Risks of Liposuction

The risks of liposuction you mentioned are less than 1 in a 1000, and the risk of anesthetic complication is about 1:100,000. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Liposuction Risks

Liposuction is a very common procedure used to contour the body and has low risks when performed by board certified plastic surgeons. Nevertheless, all surgical procedures have risks which should be part of the consent process prior the procedure.

Liposuction

You should not worry about an elective surgery such as liposuction. Just make sure that the plastic surgeon and the anesthesiologist are both certified with years of experience. Follow all instructions as directed.

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Liposuction is a very low risk procedure with minimal discomfort and very little downtime. It is very well tolerated

Low volume liposuction is low risk

Liposuction is in general a very low-risk procedure provided that it is done by an experienced surgeon in an accredited facility. Anesthesia can be done with tumescent (with or without intravenous sedation,) or general anesthesia, but for low-volume fat removal there is no real difference in terms of safety. Complications such as the ones you mention are more associated with high-volume fat removal.

Risks and Liposuction

The risks your describe are extremely unusual- your risks of dying from a car crash this year are much higher than your risks of dying from a well-conceived liposuction procedure. You should also consider the risks of not doing your procedure. What opportunities will you lose by not having your procedure? Consider both sides of the equation if you want to make a smart decision about your surgery. And good luck!

Liposuction of the legs

In general, liposuction is very safe. Yes, clots in the legs can happen but are rare and more likely with long procedures, abdominoplasty, and with certain medical conditions.

Steven Wallach, MD

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Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.