Liposuction Dangers

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery which is used to get rid of the excess fat which is difficult to eliminate with exercise and diet. In today's times, when having a lean figure is considered to be very important, liposuction has become quite a popular option. To perform liposuction surgery, the person is first given an anesthesia. Once the person becomes unconscious, an incision is made in that particular area and with the help of an instrument called cannula, the excess fat is sucked out of the body. After the excess fat is removed from the body, the incisions are stitched back by the surgeon. Though most people prefer liposuction procedures over other cosmetic surgeries as the side effects of this operation are less than the others, there are certain side effects or risks attached to this surgery too. Therefore, it is important to know about its dangers before you make the decision of undergoing liposuction.

Risks of Undergoing Liposuction

The dangers of liposuction can range from very minor ones to very severe ones. The minor risks that accompanies this surgery are numbing of the skin, change in skin pigmentation, scars and bruises, etc. Though these risks exist, they are not a matter of concern as they do not stay for a long period of time. However, liposuction can sometimes lead to certain serious side effects which can be life-threatening for the person. Hence, knowing about the potential risks can help the person in taking a decision about whether or not he/she wants to get this surgery done.

Infection: Infection is said to be the most common dangers of liposuction. If an infection has occurred after the surgery, one may observe signs like increasing tenderness, vomiting, redness in that area and sometimes high fever along with chills. Though doctors recommend antibiotics to prevent infection, there are cases where infection does occur. If you observe any such thing after the surgery, it is important that you consult the doctor immediately.

Excess Skin: Another side effect of liposuction is the presence of sagging skin in the area where the surgery is done. This usually occurs when excessive liposuction has been done. When too much fat is taken from a particular area at the same time, it is called excessive liposuction and this can cause the skin on that area to lose its elasticity, and thus sag. This is most commonly seen in old people and also those who already have stretch marks on their bodies. The solution to this problem will be to eliminate the excess skin, along with the excess fat during the surgery. Excessive liposuction can also be the reason for the occurrence of lumps, dents or certain irregularities in the area where the surgery is done.

Organ Damage: Organ damage is one of the most dangerous risks of liposuction. As the cannula is used to remove the fat, it may be difficult to know whether it is probing into some vital organ during the process. If such a thing happens, infection is said to occur causing other major complications. This is most common during stomach liposuction as there is a high chance of damage to the intestine.

Lidocaine Overdose: The anesthesia given to the individual before liposuction contains lidocaine which aids in numbing that area. However, if the dosage of lidocaine is too much, it can result in lidocaine toxicity which can be dangerous to the health of the individual. The symptoms of lidocaine toxicity include drowsiness, slurred speech, muscle twitching, metallic taste in the mouth, lightheadedness, numbness in the tongue and lips, ringing in the ears, etc. If these symptoms are not taken seriously, the person may also experience cardiac arrest.

However, these risks are actually quite rare and usually occur to people who suffer from other health problems. Hence, it is extremely crucial to take precautionary measures before undergoing liposuction. One thing people should remember is that liposuction is not the best method for all people. Therefore, it is extremely important that you consult a good and experienced surgeon who can analyze your medical history and then tell you whether or not you should go ahead with liposuction.