If you’re thinking of having liposuction, then you must know more about the risks. Like all surgeries, liposuction too has some risks. So before you make up your mind about having liposuction, get to know what could go wrong.

Infection can happen after you have liposuction. It can happen in spite of keeping the wounds clean. Infections vary in their seriousness but some can be life threatening as in the case of necrotizing fasciitis (bacteria eats away at the tissue) or with toxic shock syndrome (a serious, sometimes fatal, infection caused by a bacteria that is associated with surgery).

An embolism could occur when fat is loosened and enters the blood through vessels broken (ruptured) during the procedure. It is possible for pieces of fat to become trapped in the blood vessels, to gather in the lungs or travel to the brain. Pulmonary emboli (fat clots in the lungs) are characterized by shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing. Fat emboli can cause permanent disability or be fatal.

The problem of Visceral Perforations i.e. puncture wounds in the organs can arise because during liposuction, it is difficult for the surgeon to see where the probe is and this can cause damage internal organs.

Seroma is another risk of liposuction, where there is a pooling of serum in areas where tissue has been removed. Paresthesias (altered sensation) may be experienced at the site of the liposuction. This may show up as an increased sensitivity in the area or numbness in the area. In unfortunate cases these changes in sensation may be permanent.

After liposuction there may be some swelling (edema) that could last for weeks or even months after the surgery. You may also experience fluid imbalance, which could result in serious conditions such as heart or kidney problems.

Frequently a drug called Lidocaine is used as a local anesthetic during liposuction. Because of the high doses of Lidocaine that may be used there is a possibility of Lidocaine toxicity that may cause the heart to stop.

So, before you decide on having liposuction, ask yourself if you really want to face these risks.