If you have areas of stubborn fat deposits that exercising and dieting leave behind, liposuction is an effective way to get rid of them. However, one of the most common questions we’re asked at our plastic surgery center is, “Is liposuction safe?” The short answer is yes, but to provide you with a bit more insight into risks and more, Dr. Ortiz, a leading board-certified Raleigh plastic surgeon, is sharing what you need to know.
Understanding Liposuction
Liposuction is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure designed to remove fat deposits in the body. The most common areas are the abdomen, flanks, thighs, upper arms, and back. Dr. Ortiz uses suction-assisted liposuction in which a saline solution and local anesthetic are injected into targeted fat cells. Then, a cannula, which is a hollow needle, is used to suction out the fat cells.
Using this procedure, Dr. Ortiz gets excellent results for his patients. After the procedure is complete and healing has finished, the skin shapes into the new contours created after the fat has been removed, providing you with a smoother, trimmer appearance.
The Risks of Liposuction
While lipo is an outpatient procedure, it is a surgical procedure, and thus, does carry some side effects as well as possible complications.
Common side effects include:
- Bruising at the injection sites
- Swelling around the affected areas
- Temporary fluid accumulation
- Temporary numbness
Rare risks from liposuction:
- Skin infection at the injection sites
- Permanent numbness
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Rippled, loose skin, or irregular, bumpy contours.
Extremely rare complications
- Internal puncture in which the cannula penetrates too far and injures an internal organ.
- Fat embolism, in which a piece of loosened fat breaks away and travels into the lung, brain, or is trapped in a blood vessel.
How to Reduce the Risks of Liposuction
It’s important to note that while side effects are common and temporary, the risks of liposuction are exceedingly rare. An average of 250,000 liposuction procedures are performed each year, and the rate of serious complications is uncommon, especially when the patient is healthy and doesn’t have conditions that could make the surgery more complicated.
However, there are ways to prevent these risks and ensure your safety, including:
- Only working with a board-certified plastic surgeon. This means that they have achieved accreditation after completing extensive training in a certified program, written and oral tests as well as shown a deeper proficiency and knowledge in this area.
- Quitting smoking or using nicotine products as nicotine affects circulation and can stop blood from accessing areas of the body, leading to tissue necrosis.
- Wear compression garments as instructed
The most important thing you can do is follow your plastic surgeon’s post-surgical instructions. They want you to have an excellent outcome and will provide you with in-depth instructions as to how to care for yourself and the affected area after the procedure.
Schedule a Consultation for Liposuction in Raleigh Today
If you’d like to learn more about liposuction or find out whether it’s right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ortiz today. He will sit down with you to discuss the procedure in depth, what you can expect from both results and recovery, and determine if it’s right for you. Call us today at 919-532-2270 or fill out the form below to get started!
