1. Allergic Reactions – Rarely, local allergies to tape, dressings or suture material, used in lipohypertrophy liposuction have been reported. More serious systemic reactions due to drugs administered during surgery and prescription medicines may require additional treatment.
2. Asymmetry – Due to factors such as skin tone, bony prominence, and muscle tone, which can contribute to normal asymmetry in body features, it may not be possible to achieve symmetrical body appearance through lipohypertrophy liposuction. Furthermore, each lower limb heals independently from one another. Please remember, a slight degree of asymmetry between the right and left halves of your body is entirely natural.
3. Bleeding – It is possible, though unusual, to experience bleeding during or after surgery. If postoperative bleeding occurs, it may require emergency treatment to drain accumulated blood (haematoma). Blood transfusion is rarely required. Increased activity too soon after surgery can increase the risk of bleeding. It is important to follow all postoperative instructions and avoid strenuous activity for the advised period. I have stopped taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and any herbal or dietary supplements that may increase the risk of bleeding, as advised by my Consultant.
4. Bruising and/or Swelling – Bruising and swelling can occur and, in rare situations, persist for extended periods of time.
5. Change in Skin Sensation – A temporary decrease in skin sensation may occur following liposuction. This usually resolves over a period of time, usually three to six months. Diminished or complete loss of skin sensation that does not totally resolve could potentially occur.
6. Chronic Pain – Chronic pain and discomfort following lipohypertrophy liposuction is rare but can occur.
7. Damage to Deeper Structures – Injury to deeper structures including nerves, blood vessels, and muscles is rare, and the injury is almost always temporary.
8. Infection – Infection is unusual following lipohypertrophy liposuction. Should an infection occur, treatment including antibiotics or additional surgery may be necessary. Although extremely rare, life threatening infections such as sepsis or necrotising fasciitis could occur after surgery, regardless of the technology utilised.
9. Long Term Effects – Subsequent alterations in body contour may occur as a result of ageing, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, or other circumstances not related to lipohypertrophy liposuction.
10. Lymphoedema/Persistent Swelling – There is always the risk of developing lymphoedema in a limb that has undergone liposuction. Lymphoedema may not become apparent until many years after the initial surgery. Furthermore, lipohypertrophy is a slowly progressive condition and lymphoedema can potentially develop as an unrelated issue after surgery.
11. Patient Selection – Individuals with poor skin tone, medical problems, or unrealistic expectations may not be candidates for lipohypertrophy liposuction.
12. Pulmonary Complications – In extremely rare cases, fat droplets could become trapped in the lungs to create a possibly fatal complication called fat embolism syndrome. Pulmonary complications may occur secondarily to blood clots (pulmonary emboli) or partial collapse of the lungs after general anaesthesia. Should either of these complications occur, you may require hospitalisation and additional treatment. In some circumstances, pulmonary emboli can be life threatening or fatal.
13. Scarring – All surgery results in scars. Although good wound healing is expected, scars may be wider, thicker, or more prominent than anticipated. Scar colour and texture may differ from surrounding skin, and scars may appear different on each side of the body. Hypertrophic or keloid scarring may occur, particularly in patients of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent. Visible suture marks are possible. In some cases, further treatment such as steroid injections, silicone products, or surgical scar revision may be required.
14. Seroma – While the incidence and severity of seromas associated with liposuction are not common, such fluid accumulation is possible and could require additional treatments or surgery to promote drainage.
15. Skin Pigment Changes – Skin hyperpigmentation can occur after liposuction and may be the result of friction/shear at the incision site, bruising with resultant deposition of iron under the skin and excessive pressure from compression garments. Rarely, the hyperpigmentation can be permanent.
16. Subcutaneous Irregularities/Nodularity – It is common for the liposuctioned area to feel lumpy, but this tends to settle over time. Post liposuction irregularities may be in the form of dimples, grooves, wrinkles or folds. Surface dents due to excessive superficial liposuction persist on skin retraction and in the supine position. Dents due to fibrous adhesions to underlying muscle worsen on muscle contraction and dents due to skin redundancy may improve on supine position but will generally improve as the skin shrinks.
17. Skin Laxity – In certain areas of the body, the skin is prone to the development of redundancy or laxity after liposuction. This may be due to the amount of fat removed as well as lack of complete or optimum skin retraction.
18. Skin Contour Irregularities – Skin contour irregularities and depressions in the skin are unlikely but possible. Visible and palpable wrinkling of skin can occur, particularly when large quantities of fat cells are removed and/or the skin is lacking good elasticity. Postoperative skin contour irregularities could necessitate additional treatments including surgery, at additional cost.
19. Skin Loss – Skin necrosis is a rare complication of liposuction surgery. However, it is important to be aware of the risk. Skin necrosis can occur if a patient has poor nutrition or is a smoker. Skin necrosis can normally be treated with dressings which will allow the skin edges to heal by secondary intention. In rare cases, the necrotic skin may have to be excised and re-stitched. Poor scarring as a result of skin necrosis can also be treated with further adjustment surgery once the area has healed.
20. Anaesthesia – All forms of anaesthesia or sedation, whether administered locally or generally, carry risks including the possibility of complication, injury, and even death.
21. Surgical Shock – Liposuction could conceivably cause severe trauma, particularly when multiple or extensive areas are treated in a single session. Although serious complications are rare, infections or excessive fluid loss could lead to severe illness and even death. Should surgical shock occur following your liposuction, hospitalisation and additional treatment may be necessary.
22. Lidocaine Toxicity – There is the possibility that large volumes of fluid containing dilute local anaesthetic drugs and adrenaline that is injected into fatty deposits during surgery may contribute to fluid overload or systemic reaction to these medications. Additional treatment including hospitalisation may be necessary.
23. Over/Under Correction – When performing lipohypertrophy liposuction, every effort is made to ensure the lipohypertrophy fat is removed in a systematic and even manner. This contributes to a natural result and avoids the risk of subcutaneous irregularities. However, there is always the risk that too much or too little fat is removed from a particular area. As such, adjustment surgery may be necessary at additional cost.
24. Unsatisfactory Result – Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee on the ultimate outcome. Possible results are cosmetically less acceptable deformities or indentations, asymmetry, and surgical scars.
25. Smoking, Second Hand Smoke Exposure and Use of Nicotine Products – Patients who are currently smoking, use tobacco products, or nicotine products (patch, gum, or nasal spray) are at a greater risk for significant surgical complications such as skin loss, delayed healing, and additional scarring. Individuals exposed to second hand smoke are also at potential risk for similar complications attributable to nicotine exposure. Additionally, smoking may have a significant negative effect on anaesthesia and recovery from anaesthesia, with coughing and possibly increased bleeding.
26. Sleep Apnoea/CPAP – Individuals who have breathing disorders such as "Obstructive Sleep Apnoea" and who may rely upon Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices or utilise nighttime oxygen are advised that they are at a substantive risk for respiratory arrest and death when they take narcotic pain medications following surgery.
27. DVT/PE Risks and Advisory – There is a risk of blood clots, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolus (PE) with every surgical procedure. The higher the number of risk factors, the greater the risk.
28. Wound Healing Issues – Occasionally wounds can be slow to heal as a result of infection, poor nutrition or poor blood supply. It is important that you tell your Consultant if you smoke or have any history of poor wound healing or scarring.
29. Disappointment with Results – While we have attempted to assist you in building realistic expectations for your lipohypertrophy liposuction, you may be disappointed with your surgical results. However infrequent, it may be necessary in your case to perform additional surgery to improve results, at additional cost.
30. Large Volume Liposuction – Individuals undergoing liposuction to remove large volumes of fat are at greater risk of complications. Patients contemplating large volume procedures (greater than 5L removed) may be advised to undergo postoperative monitoring and aftercare that involves overnight hospitalisation.
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