Plastic Surgery Risks

Although plastic surgery is considered to be safe and effective when you have a board certified plastic surgeon, risk is always associated with any type of surgery. Before getting any procedure done, be sure to discuss the associated plastic surgery risks so that you fully understand potential complications.
 
Keep in mind that you can minimize your risks by choosing a certified, experienced doctor.

Medical History

Be sure that you fully disclose your personal and family medical history so that the surgeon can choose the right methods and anesthesia for you. Never underestimate the importance of discussing your full medical history with your surgeon prior to surgery. If your surgeon is aware of your chronic conditions, allergies or disposition to certain conditions, (s)he can take special precautions to reduce the chances that you will experience surgical complications.
 
Along with a patient’s family and personal medical history, the patient's health, lifestyle habits (such as smoking, alcohol abuse and drug use) and overall emotional wellbeing may also contribute to surgical risks and complications. For example, if someone is physically or emotionally unwell, (s)he is more disposed to suffer from infections, longer recovery times and dissatisfaction with the results.

Risk Factors and Complications

Risk factors are often dependent on the specific surgery, as well as the patient's overall health. However, the following list outlines some of the primary risk factors associated with plastic surgery:
  • Age: Elderly patients are at an increased risk for complications and side effects. Similarly, older patients tend to take longer to recover from plastic surgery.
  • Allergies: Certain allergies may contribute to increased risk for complications.
  • Diabetes: This chronic condition puts patients more at risk for side effects.
  • Drugs and supplements: Some drugs and supplements contribute potential side effects, depending on the type of procedure you get.
  • Heart conditions: Heart conditions, such as arrhythmias, increase the risk for plastic surgery complications.
  • Smoking: Smoking puts people at a higher risk for complications from surgery.

Though rare, anesthesia complications can also occur. These complications can include:

  • abnormal heart rhythm
  • airway obstruction
  • blood clots
  • brain damage
  • death
  • heart attack
  • stroke
  • temporary paralysis.
Patients who have multiple procedures done at one time also have increased risks for complications because their bodies are put under compounded stress. In general, the more time a person spends under general anesthesia, the greater the risk for experiencing trauma and complications.
 
Surgical errors, of course, are another concern with any plastic surgery procedure. As a result, choosing an experienced, board-certified surgeon is critical to reducing the odds of this type of mishap. Surgical errors can cause:
  • death (About 1 out of 57,000 plastic surgery patients die during the procedure.)
  • long-term loss of sensation
  • nerve damage (This causes patients to feel a tingling sensation in the affected area.)
  • seroma development (due to collection of fluid)
  • skin death or necrosis from infection.
Although these potential complications are sobering, the risk of any serious complication occurring from plastic surgery is less than half of 1 percent. Risks are minimized greatly when the procedure takes place in a safe and appropriate facility, such as a hospital or medical office, and when the patient uses an experienced physician.

Liposuction Risks

Liposuction, the removal of fat through a vacuuming procedure, carries its own set of unique risks. In general, however, liposuction is a safe procedure that has a low probability of complications arising. Liposuction risks ,although rare, include:
  • anesthesia reactions
  • appearance imperfections
  • asymmetry
  • blood clots
  • fat clots
  • fluid loss
  • fluid retention and accumulation
  • friction burns
  • healing delays
  • infection
  • nerve damage
  • pigmentation changes
  • vital organ perforation.

Post Surgical Risks

With most types of plastic surgery, bleeding is common within the first 24 hours. Sometimes, the blood will pool and form a hematoma, a localized pool of blood that generally contains blood clots. If the hematoma grows, it can cut off oxygen from that region of the body, contributing to skin death. To prevent serious, permanent damage, physicians will drain a hematoma as soon as they detect it.

Seventy-two hours post-surgery, secondary infections become a concern. Symptoms may include redness, discharge, fever and foul odor. Patients may also develop seromas, areas of fluid collection, which may need to be drained. Surgeons are prepared for these complications and will take steps to immediately reverse any adverse occurrences.

Learning about plastic surgery risks and possible complications can be overwhelming and scary. However, discussing your concerns with your surgeon is essential to giving you a realistic idea of how much risk you face. As long as your doctor is aware of your complete medical history, he or she should be able to provide you with a comprehensive picture of what to expect from your chosen plastic surgery procedure.
 
Resources
 
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (2007). Plastic Surgery Risks. Retrieved August 19, 2007, from the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Web site: http://www.aboardcertifiedplasticsurgeonresource.com/plastic
_surgery/risks.html.
 
My Body Part (2007). Possible Risks of Plastic Surgery. Retrieved August 19, 2007, from the My Body Part Web site: http://www.mybodypart.com/possible-risks-plastic-surgery.html.