These complications can occur with all types of surgeries—both reconstructive and cosmetic—and include:
– Pain
– Postoperative infection
– Bleeding or haematoma
– Fluid collection (seroma)
– Poor scarring, including keloid scars
– Skin pigmentation changes
– Numbness or nerve damage
– Blood clot formation in the legs or lungs
– Unsatisfactory cosmetic results
– Need for revision surgery
– Anesthesia complications
– Emotional impact
– Rare complications such as stroke, heart attack, cardiac arrhythmia, and anaphylaxis (extremely rare in otherwise healthy patients)
Each type of plastic surgery procedures carries its own set of specific risks and potential complications in addition to the general complications, specific complications are outlined below:
Breast Augmentation Surgery:
– Loss of sensation in the nipple and breast skin
– Need for revision surgery
– Severe infection requiring implant removal
– Inability to breastfeed
– Interference with breast imaging
– Capsular contracture
– Rippling
– Symmastia, waterfall, or double bubble deformity,
bottoming-out deformity
– Breast implant rupture or calcification
– Breast asymmetry
– Breast Implant Illness
– Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL)
Breast Reduction and Breast Lift Surgery
– Partial or total loss of the nipple and areola skin
– Loss of sensation in the nipple
– Breast asymmetry
– Inability to breastfeed
– Fat necrosis
– Wound breakdown and skin necrosis
– Over or under-reduction or lifting.
– Too high or too low nipples location.
Removal of Breast Implants:
– Wrinkling of the skin
– Deflated and sagging appearance
– Seroma and haematoma
– Need for future lifting or implant placement
– Breast asymmetry
Abdominoplasty, Thigh Lifts, Brachioplasty, and Gluteal Lifts:
– Partial or total loss of the umbilicus
– Numbness of the abdominal skin
– Wound breakdown and delayed healing
– Scar asymmetry
– Pain and tenderness
– Lumpiness or fat necrosis
– Residual bulging or laxity
– Need for revision surgery
Liposuction:
– Numbness of the overlying skin
– Asymmetry due to over or under-correction
– Skin irregularities, dimpling, or discoloration
– Fat embolism
– Skin or fat necrosis
– Temporary or permanent pain
– Damage to deeper structures or organs
Gynecomastia Surgery:
– Irregular chest contour
– Asymmetry
– Incomplete correction
– Skin folds
– Retraction of the nipple
– Nipple numbness
– Lumpiness and depressions under the skin
– Nipple skin graft loss or pigmentation changes
Rhinoplasty:
– Nose bleeding
– Asymmetry or deviation
– Nasal septal perforation
– Airway alterations
– Numbness
– Chronic pain
– Nasal deformities, overcorrection, or undercorrection
– Need for revision surgery
Otoplasty (Ear Correction Surgery):
– Extrusion of sutures
– Recurrence of prominent ears
– Undercorrection or overcorrection
– Deformity
– Asymmetry
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery):
– Swelling
– Poor scarring
– Bruising or hematoma
– Need for revision surgery
– Pigmentation changes
– Dry eyes
– Eyelid malposition (ectropion or entropion)
– Inability to close the eyes
– Eyelash loss
– Ptosis (drooping eyelid)
– Asymmetry
– Altered vision or blindness
Face and Neck Lift Surgery:
– Hair loss or changes in hairline position
– Skin necrosis
– Facial nerve injury resulting in weakness
– Numbness
– Pigmentation changes
– Asymmetry
– Undercorrection
– Need for revision surgery
Skin Cancer and Skin Lesion Surgeries:
– Incomplete excision of skin cancer
– Recurrence of skin lesion
– Partial or complete loss of skin grafts
– Partial or complete loss of skin flaps
– Disfigurement of facial features
– Limitation of movement, stiffness, or contractures
Understanding these risks is a critical part of planning your surgery. During your consultation, we will take the time to explain the specific risks related to your procedure and ensure you have a clear understanding of what to expect.