Blood clots: There is a possibility of patients developing blood clots after liposuction. Cardiac issues: Even rarer is the possibility of cardiac problems such as cardiac arrest or cardiac arrhythmia.
You're most likely to get a clot between 2 and 10 days after your surgery, but your odds remain high for about 3 months.
If clots develop, it's usually in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis causes swelling, pain, and tenderness in the affected area. The skin may also appear reddened at the site.
The incidence of thromboembolism in plastic surgery procedures ranges from 0.5% to 9% in different studies performed by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT or thromboembolism)
A potentially-deadly complication that can occur with liposuction is formation of clots in the deep veins of the legs, called deep vein thrombosis. When these clots dislodge, they can travel to the lungs and cause respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.
Take light walks: You can reduce your risk of blood clots by taking light walks after surgery, even if it's just around the house, to keep your blood moving and prevent coagulation.
As described, gluteal fat transfer is the only procedure with a higher risk of fatal fat embolism, and is still considered to have the highest mortality rate of any aesthetic procedure.
To avoid these consequences, of fat emboli forming from liposuction procedures, it is critical that one does not inject fat into or under the muscle. Using visual guidance with high-resolution ultrasound, a safe BBL procedure avoids a patient having a fat embolism.
Other red flags include fever beyond post-op day two, confusion, shortness of breath, chest pain, asymmetric calf or ankle swelling, severe pain that can't be controlled by prescription meds, and unusual drain output.
Not every patient who undergoes plastic surgery is prescribed blood thinners or other medications. The patient must have a known coagulation problem in order to qualify for this treatment. Surgery procedures such as liposuction, bbl, and tummy tuck, in particular, are associated with a high risk of blood loss.
throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm. sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or coughing up blood.
Simple exercises while you are resting in bed or sitting in a chair can help prevent blood clots. Move your feet in a circle or up and down. Do this 10 times an hour to improve circulation. Getting out of bed and walking (ambulation).
Compression garments are often worn after plastic surgery. The compression reduces the chance of blood pooling and clotting after surgery. In most cases, compression garments are worn at the surgical site to reduce swelling and the development of scar tissue.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is probably the leading cause of death associated with liposuction. It occurs most frequently with general anesthesia or heavy intravenous (IV) sedation; unnecessary perioperative IV fluid infusion, causing hemodilution; and excessive liposuction.
The most popular form of liposuction as well as the most common cosmetic procedure in the U.S. is tumescent liposuction, which is more effective, safer and less painful than traditional liposuction, and has a quicker recovery time.
Most patients will see 90% of their ultimate liposuction results with in one to three months after surgery. For the first few weeks after surgery there is postoperative swelling.
Hip, flank and back liposuction may come with an increased level of discomfort for some people due to the nature of the treatment area and the healing process.
The Amount of “Safe” Liposuction Depends on Your BMI
“High-volume” liposuction is generally considered to be a maximum of five liters of fat, which equates to about 10 pounds. Most people will have an average of 2 to 4 liters of fat removed during liposuction, or anywhere from 5 to 8 pounds.
Aggressive liposuction aims to remove as much fat as possible from the area between the skin and the underlying muscles. One of the main benefits of aggressive liposuction is that it typically results in more dramatic changes to your body shape than traditional liposuction.
Your doctor will outline a program to help prevent the development of blood clots after your surgery. This may include periodic elevation of your legs, lower leg exercises to increase circulation, support stockings, and medication to thin your blood.
Enoxaparin is used to prevent blood clots in the leg in patients who are on bedrest or who are having hip replacement, knee replacement, or stomach surgery.