Are IV fluids dangerous after liposuction?

This is a reflection of the overall amount of surgery performed and the health of the patient.  Smaller liposuction amounts in healthy patients would pose little risk for this complication.Kenneth Hughes, MDBeverly Hills, CA

Hello,If you have chosen a ABPS certified surgeon who performs surgery in an appropriately credentialed surgery center, you have no worries about proper treatment, specifically with intravenous fluids.  Like everything else in medicine, improper use will lead to harm, however that doesn't make the treatment in question inherently dangerous.Intravenous fluids are absolutely necessary for your care during your surgery and immediately after in the recovery room.  After that, most people go home and take fluids by mouth. If you are a high volume liposuction patient and are going to an aftercare facility or overnight hospital, then small amounts of IV fluid will probably be kept running for 24 hours.Best of luck!

If your surgeon feels that you need fluids after surgery, then you should discuss this with him or her. It is not possible to give medical advice without the information that will be available to your surgeon. If you are concerned, please ask. It is possible to have too much iv  fluid, but if you are not able to take any fluid orally (which would be very unlikely after neck lipo), some patients may need iv hydration.

Most patients do not need IV fluids after liposuction. If the surgeon or anesthesiologist feels this is necessary for your well-being than by all means you should accept that.

When you undergo liposuction, you undergo fluid shifts in your body because tumescent fluid needs to be initially infiltrated but then some of it is removed with the fat during the suctioning part. Therefore, good anesthesiologists will carefully monitor your fluid status and replace it as necessary (both intra-op and post-op). Best to discuss your concerns with your operating surgeon so you both are on the same page in re: to your recovery. Good luck!

Dear Ms. Mikai,thank you for your story and questions.It's always best to ask your chosen Plastic Surgeon these questions yourself. Unfortunately without a examination I can advise you in general terms, however I hope you will find them helpful.Post operatively IV fluids are given to keep you hydrated until you can sustain your self with a oral consumption of fluids. As long as you are healthy and have no heart problems and the IV rate is appropriate you should not encounter any physiological problems.I trust that you have chosen a Plastic Surgeons who is experienced and Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In addition ideally they are members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (denoting by membership as having met additional criteria and a focus on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery).I wish you my best and success,R. A. Hardesty, MD, FACSDiplomate and Certified by the Am. Bd. of Plastic Surgerywwwimagineplasticsurgery.com4646 Brockton AveRiverside, Ca 92506(951) 686-7600

Thank you for the question and there is nothing intrinsically harmful in recieving IV fluids if your surgeon feels they are necessary.Dr. Corbin

As far as fluid dynamics go with liposuction, the most dangerous thing is under hydration. Liposuction creates an area like a large burn in the area from which the fat was taken. The body's response is to fill the area with fluids from the blood compartment. If you do not replace the fluid, the blood becomes very thick and "sludgy" and the body does not have enough fluid to keep other areas functioning properly. Some physicians use large amounts of tumescent fluid to replace what is needed while others use less locally injected fluid and more IV fluid. Others do some of both. That being said, for small areas of liposuction in an otherwise healthy person with good kidneys, it is exceedingly rare to have significant problems with either dehydration or over hydration. If all you are having liposuctioned is the neck, I would never use IV fluids or keep anyone overnight. I would, however, suggest that you get some Gatorade or something similar to drink frequently for the first 24-36 hours.

Liposuction from the neck alone is a relatively minor procedure and does not require any significant fluid replacement, IV or otherwise.