Plastic Surgery Dangers

When it comes to plastic surgery, modern advances in technology, technique, and education allow for greater patient safety and satisfaction, but there are still many dangers of plastic surgery that are inherent to plastic surgical procedures.

As with any surgery, some of the dangers of plastic surgery include side effects such as dizziness, nausea, excessive pain, infection, and excessive bleeding. The more patients educate themselves about the dangers, as well as the benefits, of cosmetic surgery, the more ready they are to make an educated decision as to whether the risks are worth the rewards.

The fact that fewer and fewer plastic surgery procedures actually require the use of general anesthesia has lowered the risks associated with general anesthesia, but as many plastic surgeries still do require anesthesia of some sort, the risks are still a valid danger of plastic surgery. In general, the dangers often associated with anesthesia and plastic surgery increase in older people. Certain medical conditions will also increase the risk of complications from anesthesia such as heart, circulation, or nervous system problems. High doses of local anesthetics can have toxic effects when absorbed through the bloodstream into the rest of the body that may significantly affect a patient's breathing, blood pressure, heartbeat, or other bodily functions.

Regional anesthesia, too, carries risks as this anesthetic is usually injected close to a nerve or a bundle of nerves. Though rare, nerve damage can cause persistent numbness, weakness, or pain in the affected area. Other complications from regional anesthesia include heart and lung problems, swelling, infection, or bruising at the site of injection. General anesthesia, because it affects the whole body, it is even more likely to cause serious side effects. It suppresses normal throat reflexes such as swallowing, coughing, or gagging that prevent aspiration. Other serious risks from general anesthesia use are drastic changes in blood pressure and heart rate or rhythm, heart attacks, strokes or even death.

Other dangers of plastic surgery are scarring, and nerve damage from the surgery itself. Nerve damage often manifests as paralysis of the muscles in the area on which the surgery was performed. In most cases this is a temporary condition, though it can last for weeks, months and in rare instances, is permanent.

As plastic surgery procedures are varied, so are the dangers of plastic surgery. Specific surgeries carry specific risks. Some dangers of silicone breast implant surgeries include infection, capsular contraction, excessive bleeding, breast sensitivity and changes in the nipple. One must be mentally and emotionally stable to undergo face-lift surgery as many people experience depression afterwards when the bruising and swelling make it difficult to look at oneself in the mirror. Recovery from face-lift surgery can take as long as three to four months. Necrosis, or skin death, is a danger with most plastic surgery procedures. Dangers of liposuction plastic surgery include infection, reactions to anesthesia, blood clotting, and fluid loss. Less severe liposuction dangers are bruising and scarring, numbness of the skin, and moderate issues like a change in pigmentation. Rhinoplasty may carry the risk of, among other things, airway obstruction, bleeding, burst blood vessels, discoloration, and a loss of the sense of smell, nerve damage and pain.

The dangers of plastic surgery are many, but so are the rewards. One should always seek the advice of a plastic surgeon recognized by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before considering plastic surgery as an option.