Dangers of Plastic Surgery and Some Common Side Effects

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.