Common Complications Following Plastic Surgery

While there are many people who wish to undergo plastic surgery, many of them do not follow through on that wish for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons many people do not have plastic surgery include a lack of money, not enough vacation time to recover from the surgery and no access to properly trained and board-certified doctors. One big reason that prevents many people from having a procedure is the fear of complications from the surgery. Although there are possible risks and complications that apply specifically to certain surgeries, there are many common complications shared by almost all plastic surgeries. The following list is just a few complications patients need to be aware of before undergoing a procedure.

• Hematoma resembles a large bruise due to a pocket of blood. Hematoma is one of the most common complications that can happen following a facelift. In fact, hematoma is a risk that is found in almost all surgeries and may require an additional operation in order to drain the blood.
• Infections remain an issue even though great care is taken after a surgery to reduce the risks of infection. While most infections after plastic surgery can be treated with simple medications, there are some cases where the infection can be an internal issue requiring antibiotics administered through an IV.
• While plastic surgeries are designed to change the appearance of certain body parts, there is one complication that can add an unwanted change to the appearance of a patient. Scarring typically occurs after plastic surgery. Some of the scars will fade as time passes while other scars will remain and can be very visible. For example, hypertrophic scarring is a scar that is thick and raised and is often found in patients who have had breast augmentations.
• Nerve damage is a complication that can be found in many surgical procedures and not just plastic surgery. Some patients only suffer from temporary nerve damage while others suffer from long lasting nerve damage. Tingling sensations as well as numbness are just two of the signs of nerve damage following a surgery. Also, many women have a change in the sensitivity of their breasts following an augmentation surgery.
• Anesthesia allows a patient to have a surgical procedure without having to feel any of the pain they would normally experience during the surgery. While anesthesia is certainly helpful to patients, the use of anesthesia can lead to a number of complications. Some of the more severe complications include strokes and infections in the lungs. Some of the more common (and less severe) complications include waking up during the surgery (also known as anesthesia awareness) and being disoriented as the anesthesia wears off.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis is what happens when blood clots form in deep veins. This usually occurs in the legs. If the clots break off and make their way to the lungs, this is known as a pulmonary embolism. Unfortunately, this is a complication that can prove to be fatal.
• Some loss of blood is expected during a surgical procedure. Unfortunately, uncontrolled blood loss can occur which can lead to the patient’s blood pressure dropping. Doctors need to monitor their patients closely as blood loss can happen both during and after surgery.

The list of complications above is not meant to scare anybody away from having a surgical procedure. However, it is intended to help patients be aware of any potential complications they might encounter during, and following, surgery. The best thing for patients before their surgery is to do some research on the Internet so they will know what questions to ask a board-certified doctor before making a final decision about undergoing a surgical procedure.

- MA