Is Liposuction Safe? How Advanced Techniques Reduce the Risks

All surgical procedures have some attendant risks, and cosmetic procedures are no exception. With liposuction, the main risks relate to the use of general anesthetic, and complications that can arise after the procedure, such as infection, embolism, and alterations in skin sensitivity at liposuction sites. Some complications are potentially life-threatening, but they occur very rarely.

While there are risks associated with liposuction, a trained professional is able to minimize those risks to make the procedure much safer for the patient. As well as this, modifications have been made to the liposuction procedure, with new techniques and technology giving rise to methods that are safer and less invasive. One such technique is tumescent liposuction, which is what Dr. Sacks performs at his AZ cosmetic surgery office.

The main difference that makes tumescent liposuction distinct from other forms of liposuction is the way in which anesthesia is administered. Prior to the development of tumescent liposuction, general anesthetic was required for all liposuction procedures. This added to the risks of the procedure, simply because there’s always a very small risk of fatal complications whenever general anesthesia is used. In tumescent liposuction, anesthesia is administered via IV directly into the liposuction site, which means that general anesthesia is not needed for the procedure.

As an additional safety measure epinephrine is added to the IV solution used for tumescent liposuction. This causes temporary constriction of local blood vessels, which reduces blood loss and eliminates the need for transfusions. Another safety enhancement is the fact that lidocaine is typically used for IV anesthesia. This pain-killing drug helps inhibit bacterial growth, and therefore helps reduce the risk of post-operative infection.

While the risk of serious complications is much lower, even advanced techniques like tumescent liposuction have side-effects. There are several minor side-effects that all people will experience as a result of liposuction. After this procedure, it’s absolutely normal to experience bruising and tenderness for several days, and even discomfort and pain. There may also be a small amount of bleeding for the first couple of days. The most common side-effect is swelling at the liposuction sites. Most swelling subsides within a few days, but minor swelling can linger for quite a while, and often it’s several weeks before the final results of the procedure can be fully appreciated.

Still have questions about liposuction?

If you have any questions for Dr. Chasby Sacks aboutLiposuction, feel free to call our Arizona cosmetic surgery center for a consultation today.