Plastic surgery procedures can result in a range of complications, from an unattractive or unnatural end result to scarring or even death. In some ways, cosmetic surgery can be more difficult than most standard surgeries if the patient does not tolerate the surgery well. It may require the removal of a large amount of skin and tissue, which can cause problems with wound healing or even tissue death. However, cosmetic surgery has risks and limitations that should be taken into consideration before undergoing any procedure.
It is still surgery and carries the same risks as any other type of surgery. Fortunately, when performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon or a facial plastic surgeon, surgical complications are rare. All surgery has risks, as well as some downtime due to social activities and work, so you can recover under the care of a doctor. Hematoma is a risk in almost all surgeries and treatment sometimes includes additional operations to drain the blood if the blood pool is large or grows rapidly.
This may require another procedure in the operating room and sometimes additional anesthesia. Uncontrolled blood loss can cause a drop in blood pressure with life-threatening results. Blood loss can occur while on the operating table, but also internally, after surgery. Infections occur in 1.1 to 2.5 percent of people who have breast augmentation and skin infection (cellulite) can occur after.
In some cases, infections can be internal and serious, and require intravenous (IV) antibiotics. The potential for nerve damage is present in many different types of surgical procedures and numbness and tingling are common after plastic surgery and may be signs of nerve damage. In most cases, nerve damage is temporary, but in some cases it can be permanent. Hypertrophic scarring is an abnormally red and thick raised scar that occurs in 1.0 to 3.7 percent of tummy tucks along with smooth and hard keloid scars. General anesthesia can sometimes lead to complications such as lung infections, strokes, heart attacks, and death.
Knowledge of anesthesia, or waking up in the middle of surgery, is very rare but it is also possible. Beware of plastic surgery offers that are too good to be true. Some people travel outside the country to have plastic surgery at cheaper prices but this may increase some of the risk. Taking a long flight soon after surgery may increase the risk of blood clots. Beyond simply wanting to feel and look better, there are many beneficial reasons people undergo plastic surgery such as breast reconstruction after mastectomy, vaginal rejuvenation after delivery or liposuction to help you reach a healthy weight. As more and more patients are discovering themselves, plastic surgery is an important decision that can be incredibly satisfying when done for the right reasons. As a surgeon, it's my job to identify people who are good candidates for plastic surgery and those who aren't.
Today, plastic surgery is popularized by fast-paced clinics with staff who lack the right training and experience. If you're thinking about plastic surgery, find out everything you can about the specific procedure you're considering and talk to doctors and your parents. Wait for the test of time and rely on the expertise of your board-certified plastic or facial plastic surgeon to guide you on a safe, proven path to beauty. Talk to your plastic surgeon about what the realistic expectations are for your procedure and the limitations they see for you personally. If you're serious and your parents agree, the next step is to meet with a plastic surgeon to help you know what to expect before, during, and after the procedure as well as possible complications or disadvantages of surgery. The name is not taken from the synthetic substance but from the Greek word plastikos which means to form or mold (and which also gives its name to the plastic material).
Most board-certified plastic surgeons spend a lot of time interviewing teens who want plastic surgery to decide if they are good candidates for surgery. A procedure to correct a medical condition turned into more than 60 surgeries to “fix problems that didn't really exist”. As a plastic surgeon practicing on the Methodist Women's Hospital campus Deanna Armstrong MD finds great pleasure in performing breast reconstruction for breast cancer survivors. Cosmetic surgery may seem like an easy way to reduce your appearance for years or improve your physique but it should not be taken lightly as it carries many risks that should be taken into consideration before undergoing any procedure.
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