Liposuction is regarded overall as a safe procedure because the principles of removing body fat with a suction tube are well understood. It is common for a patient to experience some pain and discomfort along with the bruising, swelling or soreness after the surgery as the body is recovering from surgery. These liposuction side effects pose little serious health risks and are usually mild and will go away with time. Any prolonged side effect can be a sign of something more serious so it is encouraged for any patient experiencing excessive pain during the recovery period to seek the advice of their physician.
Bruising, Swelling, Soreness
It is natural to experience some degree of bruising and swelling as the tissue is recovering from the incision. The severity depends on the scale of the procedure as larger surgeries will take longer to recover from. Typically, a patient can expect the soreness associated with the bruising and swelling to go away after a couple weeks.
Dimpling of the Skin
This is a milder form of skin irregularities that can be corrected with a follow up procedure. Dimpling occurs when more fat is removed from one area than another causing indentations in the skin as it contracts over the remaining fat in the area. It is actually a very rare side effect of liposuction due in large part to the advanced techniques employed today and the level of competence in plastic surgeons.
Hematomas/Seromas
This is actually an older liposuction side effect that is becoming less of an issue since modern techniques avoid many of the problems caused by excessive blood loss. Hematomas and seromas are variations of cases where blood leaked from damage blood vessels pool under the skin and cause unsightly discoloration. It is normal for these conditions to take months to clear depending on the severity of the issue and can be minimized by properly draining the treated area before closing the incision.
Thrombophlebitis
Blood clots in the vein can cause swelling or inflammation and is more common after treatments in the upper thigh area. While mild cases will cause some discoloration and will go away after a few weeks. It is caused by pieces of fat that become dislodged during the liposuction surgery.
These are some of the most common side effects of liposuction surgery and the risks factors depend on the scale of the procedure as well as the skills of the plastic surgeon. It is normal for a patient to experience a little pain and discomfort and most surgeons will prescribe some pain medication to help. Always follow post-surgical care instructions carefully and be sure to get plenty of rest before going back to work or engaging in physically strenuous activity.
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