What Are the Side Effects of Facial Liposuction?

Question

What are the different side effects of facial liposuction? I've read that numbness, bruising, swelling, etc occur and that cardiac arrythmia is a risk. What is the likelihood of these? How long does swelling and bruising last? Is there potential for permanent numbness?

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

There can be numbness from liposuction and usually it is temporary. it can be patchy. Rarely is this permanent. There can be a weakness of the nerve that helps lower the chin and lip on the facial side of the nerve. Very rarely is that long term. There are other risks that would be discussed with you during your consultation

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

The most common are deformities and irregularities of the face. Most patients need this fat as they get older to keep the skin smooth. Think twice before having this done.

Scott L. Replogle, MD (retired) · Answer

There is nothing fundamentally different between liposuction in the face compared to other areas of the body in terms of risks although obviously there are important nerves and structures in the face that are not present in the outer thighs. The resolution process should also be the same. Properly done traditional liposuction in the face, like the neck, is fairly routine except that the swelling and bruising shows. 

	The real difference for liposuction in the face and even the neck to some degree is that normal fat is being removed rather than excess fat. It is exceedingly difficult to get results from liposuction in the face to look natural just as it is for injecting lips because excess fat is not being removed and the result will look different than the patient ever looked and not necessarily better. The other problem is getting the results to look smooth and even which requires very small cannulas and a lot of experience. 

	In general I would avoid liposuction in the face (except the neck) but not because of different risks compared to liposuction elsewhere.

What Are the Side Effects of Facial Liposuction?

Answers (3)

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