The Dangers of Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the industry today. It provides quick weight loss for those problem areas that make you feel less attractive. Many are attracted to the procedure because of this prospect, and are willing to jump in and get the procedure done, despite relatively high liposuction prices. However, liposuction, despite its benefits, is not without dangers and risks, and these dangers have to be considered before having the procedure.

In general, the dangers of liposuction go hand in hand with the amount of fat that needs to be removed, and the complexity of the procedure. The larger the area, the higher the amount of fat, the more dangerous it can be.

During the procedure, one of the dangers is accidentally perforating, or injuring vital organs. The cannula, if inserted wrong, can rupture internal organs, and therein lies one of the biggest dangers of liposuction. Two others are pulmonary embolism, when small pieces of fat or blood clots become dislodged and travel to the lungs, resulting in difficulty, or even inability to breathe, and pulmonary edema, when the fluids used during the procedure travel to the lungs. This risk comes 2-3 days right after the procedure, and is one of the most critical things to be watched out for.

Other post-surgery risks include infection, a general risk for most surgical procedures. This is usually kept at bay by the proper medication, which is why it's important that patients take them diligently. Bruising, swelling, and soreness can also be felt after the surgery, as well as feeling of discomfort, a burning sensation, and severe pain.

There are a number of developments in liposuction technology and methodology, such as laser liposuction, which requires smaller cannulas and incisions, and may reduce the chances of these dangers from happening. But always remember that no surgery is totally risk and danger free, and that certainly includes laser lipo procedures. There will always be risks.

The risks of these dangers happening however, can be reduced by taking a number of precautions in the first place. First, do the proper research when it comes to choosing a liposuction expert. Don't just always go for the lowest cost of liposuction, or the first clinic you find. Ensure that the facility and the expert have good reputations, and have high success rates.

Second, get second opinions when it comes to consulting whether or not your body will be safe for liposuction. Oftentimes surgeons will be upfront with the risks involved in order to be able to make you feel more confident about the procedure, but it won't hurt to take a second opinion from another doctor, perhaps the family doctor.

And lastly, if the surgeon will give special instructions for the surgery, make sure that these are followed diligently. Examples of these include special precautions for people who are taking birth control pills, smokers, and those in special diets or using nutritional supplements.

Dangers may be present in liposuction, but remember, all surgical procedures have them. However, taking the necessary precautions can ensure a very high success rate, and complication-free liposuction surgery procedure.