Until that elusive fountain of youth is revealed, plastic surgery remains a fashionable way for people to retain or gain a more youthful or more socially acceptable appearance. Keeping in mind that plastic surgery is not always about vanity, it is also used to give a more “normal” look to people with dis-figurations, plastic surgery still carries some risks that need to be carefully considered.
Risks are always reduced when a board certified surgeon, proficient in the field performs the surgery. But no matter what the level of expertise the surgeon has, any plastic surgery carries with it risks that a patient must thoroughly discus with the surgeon before undergoing any plastic surgery procedure.
Plastic surgery risks often have a great deal to do with the emotional and physical health of a patient. For any physically unhealthy people who may have ongoing conditions that could increase plastic surgery risks, an ethical plastic surgeon should advise against undergoing surgical procedures. Lifestyles affect the outcome of plastic surgery as well, as excessive smoking and alcohol consumption can drastically increase plastic surgery risks. Smoking not only increases recovery time, it can significantly raise the risk of necrosis, and can contribute to ugly scarring. There are also herbal supplements and prescription drugs that can increase plastic surgery risks so any of those being taken must be discussed with the plastic surgeon before treatment.
Patients undergoing multiple procedures during the same surgery have a greatly increased risk, mostly due to the fact that the patient will be under anesthesia for longer times. Prolonged exposure to general anesthesia will increase the risk of blood clots and other serious complications. Anesthesia complications are a risk with all plastic surgeries that require its use. Some problems that arise from general anesthesia include, but are certainly not limited to abnormal heart rhythms or heart attack, malignant hyperthermia, blood clots, airway obstruction, brain damage, temporary paralysis, stroke, and even death. These risks are rare but anyone undergoing plastic surgery needs to be aware of the risks associated with anesthesia use during plastic surgery procedures.
More physical trauma is often associated with multiple plastic surgery procedures, as well. Plastic surgery risks may even involve complications in the actual outcome of the surgery itself. Necrosis, which is death of the skin tissue, may occur if infection results from the surgical procedure. Seroma's can develop when fluid pools and collects beneath the skin after particular types of plastic surgery. Cases have been noted where surgical errors result in asymmetries created in a surgical area, such a rhinoplasty creating a nasal passage that is not uniform, or in unsightly irregularities, divots, puckers and dimples left in the skin upon completion of surgery. More serious plastic surgery risks from the surgery itself may include long term or even permanent loss of sensation in the area operated on, or tingling or even paralysis caused by nerve damage.
Generally, the risks from plastic surgery are moderately mild, with the risk of serious complications being less than half of 1 percent and mortality plastic surgery risks affecting just 1 in 57,000 patients. Still, a patient should not consider plastic surgery without being aware of its risks. Plastic surgery risks are always lower when procedures are performed in a sterile hospital environment or in the surgical medical office of a plastic surgeon, and are performed by surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
An Intro to the Dangers of Plastic Surgery
While there are still many dangers that are inherent to plastic surgery. It is important to understand the dangers of plastic surgery before agreeing to have it done. However, technological advances, new techniques, and better education have allowed for improved performance, leading to increased safety and satisfaction for those undergoing plastic surgery.
Too often concerned with the excitement of having improvements made, patients forget to be pro-active and learn about the dangers, as well as the benefits, of plastic surgery because the better educated they are, the more readily they can make an informed decision as to whether or not the risks outweigh the rewards. Dangers of plastic surgery include side effects like dizziness, excessive bleeding, nausea, excessive pain, and infection among many others.
Dangers of plastic surgery associated with general anesthesia are minimized with fewer plastic surgeries actually requiring that a patient go under general anesthesia. Yet many plastic surgeries still require anesthesia of some sort, and all of those contain dangers. Age is just one risk factor that can accelerate the dangers associated with anesthesia. Chronic conditions can also increase the danger of complications such as heart, circulatory, or nervous system problems. Absorbed through the blood stream, local anesthetics can have toxic effects and may significantly affect a patient's breathing, blood pressure, heartbeat, or other bodily functions.
Regional anesthesia offers danger to plastic surgery patients as it is usually injected close to a nerve or a bundle of nerves cells and although relatively 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 injection sites. General anesthesia is more likely to cause serious side effects since it affects the entire body. It suppresses swallowing, coughing and gagging which makes aspiration a danger. Other serious dangers include radical changes in blood pressure and heart rate or heart rhythm, heart attacks, strokes or even in extreme cases, death.
Scarring and nerve damage can be much feared side effects of plastic surgery. Muscle paralysis where the surgery was performed is a result of nerve damage and can either be a temporary condition, last for weeks or months or, though rare, can even be permanent.
Mental and emotional stability are required to undergo face-lift surgery when the bruising and swelling make it difficult to face a mirror as many people find themselves immersed in depression. The recovery from can take up to three or four months and be quite painful. Necrosis, or skin death, is a danger with most plastic surgery procedures, and is extremely elevated for those who smoke. The dangers of plastic surgery for liposuction include infection, reactions to anesthesia, blood clotting, and fluid loss, while silicone breast implant surgeries include dangers such as changes in nipple, infection, capsular contraction, excessive bleeding or breast sensitivity. Less severe liposuction dangers are bruising and scarring, numbness of the skin, and moderate issues like a change in pigmentation. A “nose job” may carry the risk of nerve damage and pain, airway obstruction, bleeding, burst blood vessels, discoloration, and a loss of the sense of smell among many other possibilities.
It must be noted that as plastic surgery procedures are varied, so are the dangers of plastic surgery and specific surgeries will carry specific dangers. Therefore patients must review the dangers specific to the type of plastic surgery they are considering. While there is little doubt that the dangers of plastic surgery are real, the rewards can be great as well. Patients should always consult a licensed plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before ever considering plastic surgery as an option.
Too often concerned with the excitement of having improvements made, patients forget to be pro-active and learn about the dangers, as well as the benefits, of plastic surgery because the better educated they are, the more readily they can make an informed decision as to whether or not the risks outweigh the rewards. Dangers of plastic surgery include side effects like dizziness, excessive bleeding, nausea, excessive pain, and infection among many others.
Dangers of plastic surgery associated with general anesthesia are minimized with fewer plastic surgeries actually requiring that a patient go under general anesthesia. Yet many plastic surgeries still require anesthesia of some sort, and all of those contain dangers. Age is just one risk factor that can accelerate the dangers associated with anesthesia. Chronic conditions can also increase the danger of complications such as heart, circulatory, or nervous system problems. Absorbed through the blood stream, local anesthetics can have toxic effects and may significantly affect a patient's breathing, blood pressure, heartbeat, or other bodily functions.
Regional anesthesia offers danger to plastic surgery patients as it is usually injected close to a nerve or a bundle of nerves cells and although relatively 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 injection sites. General anesthesia is more likely to cause serious side effects since it affects the entire body. It suppresses swallowing, coughing and gagging which makes aspiration a danger. Other serious dangers include radical changes in blood pressure and heart rate or heart rhythm, heart attacks, strokes or even in extreme cases, death.
Scarring and nerve damage can be much feared side effects of plastic surgery. Muscle paralysis where the surgery was performed is a result of nerve damage and can either be a temporary condition, last for weeks or months or, though rare, can even be permanent.
Mental and emotional stability are required to undergo face-lift surgery when the bruising and swelling make it difficult to face a mirror as many people find themselves immersed in depression. The recovery from can take up to three or four months and be quite painful. Necrosis, or skin death, is a danger with most plastic surgery procedures, and is extremely elevated for those who smoke. The dangers of plastic surgery for liposuction include infection, reactions to anesthesia, blood clotting, and fluid loss, while silicone breast implant surgeries include dangers such as changes in nipple, infection, capsular contraction, excessive bleeding or breast sensitivity. Less severe liposuction dangers are bruising and scarring, numbness of the skin, and moderate issues like a change in pigmentation. A “nose job” may carry the risk of nerve damage and pain, airway obstruction, bleeding, burst blood vessels, discoloration, and a loss of the sense of smell among many other possibilities.
It must be noted that as plastic surgery procedures are varied, so are the dangers of plastic surgery and specific surgeries will carry specific dangers. Therefore patients must review the dangers specific to the type of plastic surgery they are considering. While there is little doubt that the dangers of plastic surgery are real, the rewards can be great as well. Patients should always consult a licensed plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before ever considering plastic surgery as an option.
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