What's the risk and what are the complications associated with hitting main arteries during liposuction?

Hello Considerate630036,
In the subcutaneous space between the fascia covering the muscle and the Scarpa's fascia on the skin, where most liposuction is performed, there are no 'main arteries.' Certainly there are arteries and veins in this space, but they are relatively small and will not cause massive hemorrhage if injured during surgery. Liposuction cannulas are blunt tipped and all larger that the blood vessels that are in the subcutaneous tissue, making it more likely that the cannula will allow the artery to 'roll around' the side of the cannula during the procedure rather than poking right through it.
Certainly, bleeding can occur during liposuction or any other surgical procedure, however, it is not likely to be severe. If a blood vessel that we described above were to be injured during the procedure, you would notice bruising of the skin (which is likely to happen after liposuction anyway) or a collection of blood under the skin called a hematoma. The smaller blood vessels in the areas where we perform liposuction will stop bleeding on their own or with just mild pressure such as you get with your post-operative compression garments.
I would recommend consulting with a qualified surgeon who can further address your specific concerns regarding bleeding.
Best of luck!-Dr. Smith

If you go to a board-certified plastic surgeon who has been trained in liposuction, the risks should be very low. There are no main large arteries in fat. We use Epinephrine in the numbing solution to minimize bleeding from the small arteries in fat. this makes liposuction very safe. The "cosmetic" surgeons are not plastic surgeons, and many are not well trained.

Arteries really are not the concern during liposuction. All of the arteries and veins that are encountered during liposuction are small enough that they can be compressed and stop bleeding with simple combination of the epinephrine and the garments that you wear after the case. The most common complications liposuction are contour irregularities, and fluid buildup called a seroma. Certainly we could go over a long list of potential complications, but those are the most common. When using heat based skin tighten devices, skin burns are also a concern. Of course, the most dramatic complication would be if they punctured into deeper structures like the abdomen and caused organ damage. This should be a very rare complication.