Benefits & Risks of Liposuction

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery that removes excess fat from underneath the skin in the human body. It involves the insertion of a hollow tube that breaks up fat deposits and removes them through an aspirator, or vacuum pump. Like all surgical procedures, the benefits of the surgery come with potential risks that must not be ignored. Thus, it is important to weigh the benefits to risks before undergoing liposuction surgery.

Liposuction Benefits

• The most important benefit of liposuction is fat removal, which by itself has many physical and mental advantages.

  Better Health: Fat reduction through any technique, including liposuction, dieting or exercising leads to better health and well-being. Weight loss reduces the chances of heart diseases, diabetes and other fatal diseases. Moreover, many people feel lethargic and experience body pain due to excess fat. This can be addressed through liposuction.

  Better Appearance: The change in appearance is usually for the better. Liposuction helps you lose stubborn fat pockets that otherwise are hard to lose, even with good diet and consistent workouts. Losing excess fat not only improves your appearance but also increases self-confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, results and a new look can be achieved instantly in just a few hours.

Liposuction Risks

• Occasionally, some patients experience complications. If you experience any of these symptoms, immediately contact your surgeon. The symptoms include swelling, rashes, heavy bleeding, brown spotting, irregularity in body contour, bruising, inflammation, blood clot, numbness, nerve damage or skin burn.

  Infections: Infection may occur after any surgery and can occur after liposuction, too. In most cases, an antibiotic is prescribed to the patient. It is very important to keep the wound clean. These infections should not be taken lightly, as in some cases they can become life threatening.

  Embolism: Embolism may occur when fat breaks and enters the blood through blood vessels that are broken during the surgery. Pieces of fat may get stuck in the blood vessels and travel all the way up to the lungs or the brain, resulting in fat clots.

  Seroma: Seroma is the gathering of serum in areas where the fat tissues have been removed. This is a straw-colored liquid that originates in the blood and can be harmful.

  Changes in Sensation: You may experience altered sensation in the form of increased pain or numbness in the area where the surgery was targeted. If these changes persist for more than a week, it is important to let your doctor know. Failing to take action can result in a permanent change in sensation.

  Swelling: Swelling may occur after liposuction. It is always a good idea to consult your doctor if excessive swelling occurs.

  Skin Death: The skin near the surgery site can sometimes die. In such a case, the skin color may change, making the skin vulnerable to bacterial infections.

  Burns: The liposuction surgery may cause burns on the skin due to the heated ultrasound probes that are used.

  Anesthesia Toxicity: The anesthesia given to the patient to numb the skin before the surgery contains lidocaine. Sometimes high doses may result in restlessness, drowsiness, light-headedness, slurred speech, numbness of lips, shivering, metallic taste in mouth and convulsions. Excessive toxicity to lidocaine can lead to heart failure.

  Death: Many deaths have been reported due to failure of the surgery. A study by the American Society of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons (ASPRS) concluded 19 deaths per 100,000 surgeries.

Liposuction Risk vs. Benefit

• It is very important to carry out a risk-vs.-benefit analysis before considering liposuction surgery. A cost analysis must also be carried out, as liposuction can be an expensive surgery. Moreover, most health insurance companies do not cover the cost of this surgery. The risks can be handled easily through proper intervention from a doctor with medication in most otherwise healthy patients.