Intro to the Risk of Plastic Surgery

Until that mysterious fountain of youth is discovered, plastic surgery will likely remain a popular way for people to try and keep a youthful appearance. Of course, plastic surgery is not always about vanity, it is also an important way for people with dis-figurations to assume a more “normal” look.

Plastic surgery risks are reduced greatly when the surgery is performed by a board certified surgeon who is proficient in the field of plastic surgery. But even with the highest level of expertise, any surgery, including plastic surgery, comes with risks that need to be thoroughly discussed with a surgeon before undergoing any surgical procedure.

Plastic Surgery Candidacy

Many times, the risks have to do with the emotional and physical health of patients. If a person is not physically healthy and has an ongoing condition that may increase plastic surgery risks, an ethical plastic surgeon will usually advise a person against the surgery. Lifestyles may even affect the outcomes of plastic surgery, so excessive smoking and alcohol consumption increase plastic surgery risks. Smoking often increases recovery time and can contribute to worse scarring. There are also supplements and drugs that can increase risks so any form of pills or supplements should be discussed with the plastic surgeon before any plastic surgery is considered.

Multiple Treatment Risk

Plastic surgery risks are greater for patients who are undergoing multiple procedures during the same surgery. This is largely due to the fact that the patient will be under the effects of anesthesia for longer periods of time. Longer time under anesthesia and under the surgical knife increases the risk of blood clots or other serious complications occurring. Anesthesia complications are a risk with all surgeries, and as plastic surgery is often performed under general anesthesia, these risks are inherent. Complications from anesthesia can include, but are not limited to, malignant hyperthermia, abnormal heart rhythm, blood clots, heart attack, airway obstruction, temporary paralysis, stroke, brain damage, and even death. These risks are rare and a good anesthesiologist can reduce these risks, but anyone undergoing plastic surgery needs to be aware of the risks associated with anesthesia.

Surgical Risks

Plastic surgery risks may involve complications in the outcome of the surgery itself. More physical trauma is usually associated with multiple plastic surgery procedures, as well. Death of skin tissue may occur if infection results upon completion of the procedure. Seroma development may occur when fluid collects beneath the skin after various types of plastic surgical procedures. There are also cases where surgical errors result in successive problems and these plastic surgery risks may be asymmetries created in a surgical area, irregularities, divots puckers, or dimples left in the skin. Some more serious plastic surgery risks include long term or even permanent loss of sensation in the area, or tingling caused by nerve damage in the affected area.

While, overall, plastic surgery risks are moderately small, the risk of serious complications being less than half of one percent and mortality plastic surgery risks affecting just 1 in 57,000 patients, one should never go into plastic surgery without being aware of what the risks are. Plastic surgery risks are always lowest when procedures are performed in a hospital or surgical medical office by surgeons who are appropriately certified.