Lipo Burn - Malpractice or not?

Question

I had a TT, BL, BA and Lipo 360. My doctor is board certified. The morning after surgery I was covered in bruises which i knew would happen. I had one spot that was extremely raw like a burn. I asked my surgeon and he insisted it was a bruise, even after it turned black and necrotic. 2 weeks post op he finally prescribed me silvadine cream. By this point it was completely black. He still claimed no wound care was needed. I finally decided to go to a wound care clinic to have it taken care of.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Great posted photo whether your issue is a Lipo burn friction burn from garment or combination there of, or due to swelling, can be determined by in person and/or virtual consultation. Libel burn is a complication of liposuction that is usually outlined in the consents preoperatively. Therefore, this is not Mal Practice as you were intimating. Any unforeseen event complication can occur in any surgery. Treatment is necessary in the early stages where this might be an issue waiting too many days after discovering this issue to recommend wound care treatments? Best virtual consult with to discuss. Regards.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Much more information is needed than just your short statement and one photo. Please discuss your concerns with your surgeon.

Mark Eberbach, MD · Answer

Liposuction does carry certain risks. There are several different devices that are used for liposuction, and some of them do in fact, cause thermal burns. Other times there are injuries to the blood supply by the act of liposuction loan, but this is rare.

Cigarette smoking and pour aftercare can contribute to this complication as well.

As for seeing a wound care “specialist”, if your Plastic Surgeon is a fully board-certified Plastic Surgeon from the American board of Plastic Surgery, they are expert in all aspects of pre and post surgical care including complications.

As for malpractice the answer is maybe but probably not unless there was negligence. Complications does not automatically mean there was malpractice.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Regular Liposuction does not generate heat.
Regular Liposuction does not generate heat and is, therefore this is unlikely to represent a burn injury.
It’s far more likely that this is an injury due to ischemia of the skin, possibly due to the use of excessively tight compression garments.
When the section is done in conjunction with a tummy tuck, the risk of tissue necrosis and wound healing problems is increased.
The most common reason for surgical related ischemia is going to be at the incision line of the mid abdomen.
It’s possible that necrosis would develop from repeated mechanical trauma to the dermal layer, but this is very unusual from Liposuction.
In the end, what substitutes malpractice is dependent on what jurors decide if a lawsuit goes to trial. There is a great degree of subjectivity improving malpractice, especially for cosmetic surgical cases tends to be quite difficult.
Because tissue necrosis and wound healing complications are a known risk of having tummy tech surgery and it is known that these complications are increased with adding Liposuction. It’s going to be challenging to show malpractice.
 May or may not be sympathetic to what you’ve gone through.
Lawsuits tend to be very stressful, time-consuming, extremely expensive and tent to not be in the patient’s favor for many attempts after cosmetic surgery.
Jurors tend to have faith in medical providers.
There are a lot of other variables to take in the consideration.
For example, if you have any history of nicotine or tobacco use, then it could be an easy argument that you put yourself at substantially increased risk.
This is not ever going to be a yes, or no answer.
If you want to pursue a legal remedy, then talk to attorneys.
 I suggest maintaining an open relationship with your provider.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Lipo Burn - Malpractice or not?

Answers (4)