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Liposuction Dangers

Liposuction is a form of popular plastic surgery in which amounts of fat are removed from the body to create a contoured or slimmer profile. Areas of the body that are often targeted for this type of plastic surgery include the stomach, inner thighs, upper arms, buttocks and hips. However, there are liposuction dangers that should be considered before undergoing this type of plastic surgery. Dangers include injury to the skin, irregular skin surface upon healing, infection and blood clots and lidocaine toxicity.

  1. Injury to the Skin

    • According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), one of the very significant liposuction dangers is the possibility of injury to the skin and surrounding tissues of the targeted area. Liposuction is accomplished by placing a small thin metal suctioning tube under the skin in pockets of fat. The plastic surgeon moves the tube through the fat pocket, slowly liquefying the fat and then suctioning it out into an exterior collection container. If the surgeon is not experienced and skilled in making smooth clean swipes of the suctioning tube, the skin can be injured, as can tissues immediately adjacent to the targeted areas.

    Irregular Skin Surface

    • Another potential danger of liposuction that might also occur is resulting irregular skin surface upon healing. Once the surgical procedure is over, usually the area is wrapped tightly with surgical support bandages and the patient is sent home to heal. As the tissues underneath the skin heal, it may potentially heal in ripples or with dimples, particularly if the surgery was completed by an inexperienced surgeon. The UMMC recommends using the services of a skilled surgeon in order to avoid this type of complication.

    Infection and Blood Clots

    • As with any surgery, the potential complication of infection and blood clots is a very real liposuction danger to consider. Liposuction is completed under general anesthetic, meaning that the patient is completely unconscious during the procedure. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, when large areas are targeted for suctioning, there is a greater danger of exposure to infection, blood clots, fat clots and damage to surrounding tissues. These dangers can create serious and substantial complications and even lead to death if not addressed immediately.

    Volume of Fat Removed

    • One of the highest dangers of liposuction is that there are limits on how much fat can be removed through the procedure. According to UMMC, when removing fat from a large area of the body, such as the stomach or abdominal area, excessively large amounts of fat should not be removed. This is due to the danger of creating damage to nerves and vital organs. Also, liposuction should not be used to replace traditional weight loss methods.

    Lidocaine Toxicity

    • Lidocaine is an anesthetic and pain killer. According to the UMMC if the lidocaine content of the anesthetic is too high, there is a significant and substantial risk that the lungs will become flooded with too much fluid. This could result in the patient experiencing complications and potentially die. As a result, it is extremely important to understand the anesthesia that is being used. Patients should meet the anesthesiologist to ask about their knowledge and experience with liposuction dangers and how they have dealt with complications in the past.

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