Liposuction has become "commonplace" in American culture and is considered minor surgery, since it is often conducted as a day surgical procedure in an outpatient clinic. However, surgical setting and public familiarity with liposuction does not eliminate the fact that liposuction carries with it all the same risks and dangers that accompany surgery and general anesthesia.
Infection
Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS, RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, authors of "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care", discuss how infection is a risk in liposuction as it is with all surgical procedures. Any sign of redness in the surgical area, pus or foul smelling drainage from the incision sites or fever should be reported to your doctor immediately. Most often patients are placed on a short course of antibiotics following liposuction to help prevent infection.
Blood Clots
Surgery places you at risk for developing blood clots. The longer you are under general anesthesia, the greater your risk. Recovery from liposuction requires periods of immobility, which increases your risk of developing blood clots. Anti-emboli stockings and compression devices may be used while you are in the hospital to help improve circulation in your legs in an attempt to prevent the formation of blood clots.
Shock
A complication of general anesthesia during surgery is low blood pressure. Blood pressure may become dangerously low resulting in shock. Prolonged shock can cause tissue damage to the kidneys, heart, and brain and can delay wound healing after surgery.
Fluid Overload
To prevent shock or to treat shock during surgery, patients receive large volumes of fluid intravenously (through the vein). High volumes of fluid cause patients to experience fluid overload characterized by diffuse swelling. Some patients may suffer congestive heart failure from fluid overload.
Nerve Damage
The Food and Drug Administration report that a risk in liposuction is nerve damage. You may have numbness and tingling or pain in the area where liposuction was performed. This complication could resolve on its own or become a permanent problem.
Punctured Organs
A life threatening risk of liposuction is punctured organs. A metal probe or canula is used to remove fat during liposuction. It is possible for this instrument to puncture the abdominal wall and damage underlying organs such as the intestine. A serious infection called peritonitis is possible from such an injury. Surgical repair with prolonged hospitalization may be required.
Tissue Necrosis
Tissue necrosis means tissue death. Liposuction can damage nerves and blood vessels causing a loss of perfusion and innervation to tissues around the procedure area. The skin dies and may fall off, or it may need to be surgically removed. The possibility of infection and scarring is high.
The "Omas"
Hematomas (bruising) and serotomas (collection of fluid) can develop where liposuction was performed. Drains may be needed to remove the serotoma so that healing can take place.
Death
A potential risk in liposuction as in any surgery is death. A person may suffer cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest during and following general anesthesia.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius MS RN, & M. Linda Workman Ph.D; 2006
- The Food and Drug Administration: "What Are The Risks or Complications of Lisposuction?"
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