Liposuction and Cellulite

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Risks of liposuction continued...

6. Burns

There are several types of liposuction procedures. Each procedure comes with its own risks. During ultrasound assisted liposuction (UAL), the ultrasound probe many become very hot and cause burns. Doctors try to prevent these burns by not operating too close to the skin's surface or leaving the probe in for too long.

7. Organ damage from liposuction

Puncture to internal organs such as intestines may occur during liposuction. Since the incision is small, the possibility that the surgeon accidentally punctures an internal organ during probing is possible. When organs are damaged, infections may result and another surgery may be required to repair them. Higher risks of intestinal damage occur for patients with a hernia.

8. Pulmonary embolism

A high risk after liposuction is pulmonary embolism. This occurs when small pieces fat dislodged during liposuction travel to the lungs. Patients may experience difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. If you have these symptoms it is crucial to call 911 for emergency treatment. The risk of pulmonary embolism is greatest within the first three days after surgery.

9. Fluid imbalance

Another form of liposuction is tumescent liposuction which requires large amounts of fluids injected inside the body. This may result in fluid imbalance which if not treated may result in fluid in the lungs, heart or kidney dysfunction.

10. Lidocaine overdose

During liposuction, your doctors may inject large amounts of lidocaine. If the amount is too much for your body, lidocaine toxicity may result. You may experience symptoms such as lightheadedness, drowsiness, ringing in the ears, slurred speech, metallic taste in the mouth, numbness of the lips and tongue, shivering, muscle twitching, convulsions, and ultimately, cardiac arrest.

Fortunately, other forms of liposuction do not use large amounts of lidocaine. Ask your doctor about the risks for lidocaine toxicity during liposuction.

Liposuction deaths

According to reports in medical literature, the risks of death due to liposuction are 3 for every 100,000 liposuction surgeries performed. The risk of death may increase with multiple surgeries performed during liposuction.

To minimize risks during liposuction, a patient must be healthy and the procedure should be conducted by a highly trained professional. Extracting large amounts of fat, general anesthesia, and/or performing multiple procedures during the same surgery all increase the risk of complications.

Liposuction not for cellulite

Overall, liposuction is not the solution for cellulite. As discussed, liposuction removes deeper layers of fat. Since cellulite is superficial fat, it is not removed by liposuction. After liposuction effects such as lax skin further increase the appearance of cellulite. If you are not concerned with cellulite and are hoping to remove fat that can not be removed with exercise or diet than you might want to ask your doctor if liposuction is for you.

However, if you are looking for an effective cellulite treatment consider treatments such as mesotherapy or acoustic wave therapy. Feel free to browse our cellulite treatments section for more information on treating your cellulite.

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