Liposuction Risks and Complications

Newport Beach – Orange County – California

Since liposuction is major surgery, it brings a certain risk of post-surgical complications. Complications are not the same as side effects and it is important to understand the difference before you go ahead with any sort of surgery.

  • Side effects are temporary, minor and fairly predictable – they are things like bruising, swelling, a small amount of bleeding in some cases, and pain or discomfort. These things result from the fact that your body was “invaded” in a sense; it was slightly “injured” for a desired purpose, and the immune system is activated to heal it.
  • Complications are not part of the healing process, and can lead to long-term problems and even death – they are things like excessive bleeding, blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and infection.

By far the majority of liposuction procedures have no complications afterwards. The healing process follows its course, you recover fully, and you resume your normal activities with a pleasing new shape. When a complication does occur, it can be the result of a patient disregarding the surgeon’s post-operative instructions. You would be given these instructions ahead of time, in printed form, and they are written for your benefit. They need to be obeyed, since they will help you avoid things like infection and increased pain.

Dr. Hendricks is a highly-trained Orange County liposuction surgeon and he screens new patients very carefully. He performs liposuction surgery only on those who are good liposuction candidates. He will plan your liposuction carefully, customizing it for your individual needs and goals. If you need more than one procedure to meet your goals, he will let you know.

However, life happens, and there could still be a complication with your liposuction surgery and it could be minor or major.

Minor Complications

  • Scarring -- Liposuction uses very small incisions, but all incisions lead to scars. Sometimes the scar can fail to shrink and fade, and instead remain red and raised. Scarring is an individual thing and you may know beforehand how your body tends to form scars.
  • Numbness -- In some cases there is long-term numbness in the area. It may linger or sensation may eventually be restored. If the nerve is compressed, Dr. Hendricks can usually correct that, or it may correct itself as swelling subsides.
  • Seroma – If you had ultrasound liposuction surgery, the skin can sometimes detach from tissue beneath it, allowing fluid to accumulate in the space or pocket. Dr. Hendricks can drain it out and you might wear a compression garment to help prevent it.
  • Lumps or dents – The skin may look irregular after your liposuction surgery but this can be corrected with a surgical revision.

Major Complications

  • Infection – Infection could be minor or major. Antibiotics may take care of it quickly, but it is important to contact us if you notice any infection developing. If the infection is left to spread, it could become life-threatening. Symptoms of infection include fever, redness and tenderness in the treated area, vomiting and chills.
  • Blood clots -- To prevent blood clots forming in the legs, it is important to start a little daily walking to stimulate blood flow. Your post-surgery instructions will tell you when to begin walking and your follow-up visits allow Dr. Hendricks to confirm that all is well.
  • Pulmonary embolism – Sometimes a small piece of fat can be dislodged, get into the bloodstream, and travel to the lungs. You would notice difficulty with breathing if this happens, and if it does happen, it is usually within the first three days of recovery.
  • Burning -- In some liposuction surgeries, the tissue can burn from the ultrasound probe becoming hot. Dr. Hendricks usually prevents that by keeping the probe moving and not too near the skin surface.
  • Fluid imbalance – if you have tumescent liposuction, a large amount of fluid is injected to the treatment area and although fluid is also removed with the fat, an imbalance may occur. This can be treated but if it is left untreated, it could cause heart or kidney problems or a fluid build-up in the lungs.

Patient education is one of the ways Dr. Hendricks reduces liposuction risks and complications, and we would like you to be familiar with these potential dangers before your procedure. If you notice any signs of such problems during your recovery, please contact us immediately.

For more information about liposuction, please see our pages on Liposuction Questions, SmartLipo, and SmartLipo Questions.

The first step towards your excellent liposuction surgery results is choosing a well-qualified surgeon. Please call or email our office today if you would like to schedule a consultation with Orange County liposuction surgeon Dr. Hendricks. We look forward to meeting with you.