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FeedCosmetic Surgery: What You Should Know
They are rare, but poor outcomes can occur. Some procedures can be dangerous. Before you decide, here are issues to discuss with your doctor.
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Want to look young, trim and attractive? Who doesn’t? Cosmetic surgery offers a world of possibilities. But though the result may be alluring, people need to consider the hazards
All surgeries involve thousands of steps, any of which can cause problems if not planned and executed properly, says Centreville plastic surgeon Dr. Peter R. Coggins. Infection, excessive bleeding, blood clots, abnormal scarring and numbness at the incision site can occur after any procedure. Life-threatening complications include pulmonary emboli, cardiac arrest, and adverse reactions to anesthesia or medications.
Complications specific to cosmetic surgery include unsatisfactory result, skin necrosis, asymmetry, slow healing, and skin and contour irregularities. These risks will vary from patient to patient. “Complications will be different for different age groups and in patients with pre-existing medical conditions,” says Milford plastic surgeon Dr. Dimitrios Danikas.
Such complications are rare in the hands of a skilled surgeon, and if they do occur, they are correctable. Still, an average of 1 percent to 4 percent of all patients experience some sort of problem or negative outcome. If you consider that more than 11 million procedures were performed in 2007, there were at least 110,000 problems. So patients must choose their surgeons carefully.
Cosmetic surgery patients often face psychological issues as well. Depression and second-guessing can result as the person copes with change. This can occur even after a successful outcome. “Sometimes the change is too much for them to handle,” says Dr. Abdollah Malek of The Centre for Cosmetic Surgery in Newark.
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