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.