Liposuction is a surgical procedure which is used to remove body fat from specific areas such as hips, thighs, chest, back, abdomen, upper arms etc. Liposuction is not a weight loss solution, but it is used to remove areas of fat which are hard to get rid of through exercise or diet.
Liposuction shapes or contours a specific body area. In liposuction, the surgeon/doctor uses the suction technique to remove fat from specific areas using a cannula. People who are in good health, having good skin tone, and without any health conditions are best candidates for liposuction.
Liposuction is not suitable for people with heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, and pulmonary problems.
Dangers of Liposuction:
Liposuction is a major surgery and hence, it has its risks besides the temporary side effects. The dangers of liposuction are:
- Allergic reaction: The patient can develop an allergic reaction to the medications or to the materials used during the surgery
- Infections: In liposuction, the surgeon makes puncture wounds to insert the cannula. This can result in an infection which may require surgical intervention
- Irregularities in contour: Liposuction can result in withered, bumpy or wavy skin. These Irregularities are caused due to uneven fat removal during the procedure
- Internal punctures: Deep insertion of cannula can result in puncture of internal organs such as spleen, intestines etc., which may be fatal
- Lidocaine toxicity: Too much of saline fluid or high concentration of lidocaine may result in lidocaine toxicity. Lidocaine toxicity can cause tingling, numbness, unconsciousness and cardiac arrest
- Pulmonary embolism: During liposuction, clots of blood or fat can travel to the lungs resulting in pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening
- Fluid imbalance: Liposuction involves removal of fat, which contains lot of fluid. To compensate this, the surgeon inject fluid. In spite of this process, liposuction may result in fluid imbalance, which may affect the body parts.
Liposuction is a major surgical procedure and it has many risks if not properly performed. To avoid the dangers of liposuction, it is important to consult only a board-certified or specially trained surgeon.
