Cosmetic Surgery

Be Aware of the Risks of Cosmetic Surgery

All surgeries, including cosmetic procedures, carry risk. Those with a history of cardiovascular disease, lung disease, diabetes or obesity have a higher risk of developing complications such as pneumonia, stroke, heart attack or blood clots in the legs or lungs. Smoking also increases risks and interferes with healing.

A meeting with the surgeon will include a discussion of these risks and others related to the patient's health history.

Possible complications for any surgical procedure include:

• Complications related to anesthesia, including pneumonia, blood clots and, rarely, death
• Infection at the incision site, which may worsen scarring and require additional surgery
• Fluid build up under the skin
• Mild bleeding, which may require another surgical procedure, or bleeding significant enough to require a transfusion
• Obvious scarring or skin breakdown, which occurs when healing skin separates from healthy skin and must be removed surgically
• Numbness and tingling from nerve damage, which may be permanent