Liposuction is performed to remove excess fat from various parts of the body. Although highly effective, there are certain side effects associated with this surgery. This article provides information about the various side effects of this surgery.
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery undertaken for excess fat removal from certain areas like buttocks, thighs, neck, abdomen, and arms. This is an extreme measure taken by people who have been unsuccessful in eliminating fat by dieting or exercising. The surgery has many variations to it. There are different procedures like ultrasound-assisted liposuction, traditional method, tumescent liposuction, and laser liposuction.
Side Effects of Laser Liposuction
Laser liposuction is less bruising and has a short recovery period. Most people recover within 2 days after the surgery. At times, physicians may prescribe liposuction compression garments to avoid loosening of skin.
Bleeding and Infection
Although bleeding and infection is uncommon after this procedure, it may occur in certain cases. In order to reduce infection, the incision area needs to be cleaned well and kept dry.
Scarring
Sutures and stitches are not required in this procedure, as the incisions are very small. However, the site of incision may develop tiny scars, approximately the size of a mole.
Asymmetrical Results
Asymmetrical results could be noticed due to irregular fat removal or removal of fat from areas close to the skin. This complication is rare and is observed in very few patients who have undergone this surgery.
Skin Issues
Use of laser rarely causes thermal injuries (skin burns) and skin damage. However, these complications can be avoided by getting the surgery done from a reputed doctor who uses standardized equipments.
Side Effects of Tumescent Liposuction
This procedure has become popular in recent years, mainly because it has erased some of the discomforting side effects earlier associated with liposuction. The procedure is more or less same as the traditional method, but has certain differences as well. A large dose of local anesthesia is injected into the body part which needs the treatment. This causes the area to swell and harden up, allowing the doctor to remove unwanted fat smoothly and the with least possible bleeding.
A couple of risks associated with this procedure are fluid accumulation and lidocaine toxicity. The latter occurs when there is an excess amount of lidocaine in the tumescent solution. This makes it tough for the body to properly metabolize the drug. Fluid may accumulate in the lungs if excess solution is injected into the area of surgery.
Minor Side Effects
There are some minor ill effects which do not pose any major health concern. These include swelling, skin discoloration, lumpiness, bruising, or any other complications due to the drugs used during the surgery. In almost all such cases, these can be treated if immediate action is taken.
Major Side Effects
In some cases, the patient may develop certain side effects due to the anesthesia. This can be avoided by ensuring that the patient is not allergic to the drug. Also, certain patients may experience excess blood loss or blood clotting after the surgery. Infections are always a possibility after any surgery. It is therefore important to keep the incisions clean, and ensure that they are not irritated during fever.
Although rare, infections, blood clotting, late healing, and scarring are few other side effects of this procedure. Nevertheless, the patient should contact the doctor immediately in case of swelling or bruising around the operated body area.
There are certain equally effective alternatives to this technique, but they take longer to show results. Liposuction should be the last choice for removal of extra fat, and should be opted only when all other methods have failed.
