Plastic Surgery Risks

All surgical procedures carry risks. Results vary and specific outcomes are not guaranteed.

 

General risks and complications of surgery

Risks associated with general anaesthesia, including nausea. Anti-nausea medication will be administered during the operation, and as required during your recovery. Your anaesthetist will discuss specific risks related to anaesthesia with you further.

Pain, bruising and swelling around the incisions and operated site(s). Pain relief will be administered and steps taken to reduce bruising and swelling, including how you can manage this yourself.

Heavy bleeding from an operated site. In the unlikely event that blood loss during surgery has been large, a transfusion may be needed. Steps are taken during your procedure to limit bleeding. You may also be asked to reduce or stop certain medications leading up to your surgery.

Infection that may require treatment with antibiotics or further surgery in some cases. Antibiotics are administered during the operation to prevent this as much as possible, and wound care instructions provided before your discharge.

Allergic reaction to sutures, dressings, antiseptic solutions, or medications. Please notify Dr Taylor and the nursing staff of any known allergies that you may have.

The formation of a large blood clot, or haematoma, an accumulation of blood around the surgical site that may require drainage. It is rare that a clot can move to the lungs and become life threatening.

Keloids and hypertrophic scars that are raised, red and thickened scars that may form over the healed incisions. These may be itchy, annoying and unsightly but are not a threat to health. Scar management is a part of our support we offer to our patients.

Slow healing (often related to smoking or diabetes), separation of wound edges or areas of skin that do not heal and may require a skin graft.

Numbness around operated sites. While numbness typically subsides slowly over several months, some numbness may be permanent.

Find out more by selecting an option above.

Abdominoplasty-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with abdominoplasty surgery may include:

  • Difficulty in bending forward due to the tightened skin. Other movements may also feel constrained. As this surgery is difficult to recover from we also offer our patients access to professional physiotherapy sessions which will get you back upright and on your feet as quickly as possible.
  • Poor scarring can be a problem with abdominoplasty. This is a long wound. All efforts are made to avoid scar problems but they can occur. Scar management is a part of our support we offer to our patients.
  • Asymmetry All attempts are made to achieve a symmetrical result from one side to the other, but there may be some residual asymmetry after healing has taken place. This often settles with time, but if it is still present at six months, further surgery can be required to remove this prominence. Small ‘dog ears’ can be removed under local anaesthetic, but larger ones will need a trip to the operating theatre, as a day-only admission.
  • Seroma is a collection of serum, the thin straw coloured fluid that the body exudes when healing wounds. Preventing a seroma means making the skin flap and muscle wall heal together as fast as possible to minimise the space between. To this end, suction drains are used in the cavity to drain excess serum as it forms and a pressure garment is used around the abdomen to press the two layers together.

 

Abdominoplasty surgery involves Liposuction. Risks specifically associated with liposuction surgery may include:

  • Complications caused by the injection of anaesthetic fluid can include lignocaine toxicity (if the solution’s lignocaine content is too high) or collection of fluid in the lungs (if too much fluid is given). This can occur in tumescent and super-wet liposuction.
  • Excessive fluid loss, which can lead to shock.
  • Fluid accumulation.
  • Infection that develop in fatty tissues. This can be a serious complication and can be difficult to treat.
  • Friction burns or other damage to the skin or nerves.
  • Irregular skin surface, uneven contours or rippling, asymmetric or ‘baggy’ skin surface.
  • Skin pigmentation changes, skin discolouration or swelling.
  • Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs and abdominal organs.
  • Persistent swelling in the legs.
  • Further surgery may be necessary to address complications.

Bodylift-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with body lift surgery may include:

  • Difficulty in bending forward due to the tightened skin. Other movements may also feel constrained. As this surgery is difficult to recover from we also offer our patients access to professional physiotherapy sessions which will get you back upright and on your feet as quickly as possible.
  • Scars associated with body lift operations are always long, and may be unsightly and disappointing. Dr Taylor will try to position each scar in the least conspicuous position. Scar management is a part of our support we offer to our patients.
  • Disappointment in body shape. Due to a large amount of loose skin, some patients require one or more additional procedures to attain the desired body shape.
  • Seroma is a collection of serum, the thin straw coloured fluid that the body exudes when healing wounds. Preventing a seroma may involve drains and compression garments.

Bodylift surgery involves Liposuction. Risks specifically associated with liposuction surgery may include:

  • Complications caused by the injection of anaesthetic fluid can include lignocaine toxicity (if the solution’s lignocaine content is too high) or collection of fluid in the lungs (if too much fluid is given). This can occur in tumescent and super-wet liposuction.
  • Excessive fluid loss, which can lead to shock.
  • Fluid accumulation.
  • Infection that develop in fatty tissues. This can be a serious complication and can be difficult to treat.
  • Friction burns or other damage to the skin or nerves.
  • Irregular skin surface, uneven contours or rippling, asymmetric or ‘baggy’ skin surface.
  • Skin pigmentation changes, skin discolouration or swelling.
  • Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs and abdominal organs.
  • Persistent swelling in the legs.
  • Further surgery may be necessary to address complications.

Liposuction-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with liposuction surgery may include:

  • Complications caused by the injection of anaesthetic fluid can include lignocaine toxicity (if the solution’s lignocaine content is too high) or collection of fluid in the lungs (if too much fluid is given). This can occur in tumescent and super-wet liposuction.
  • Excessive fluid loss, which can lead to shock.
  • Fluid accumulation.
  • Infection that develop in fatty tissues. This can be a serious complication and can be difficult to treat.
  • Friction burns or other damage to the skin or nerves.
  • Irregular skin surface, uneven contours or rippling, asymmetric or ‘baggy’ skin surface.
  • Skin pigmentation changes, skin discolouration or swelling.
  • Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs and abdominal organs.
  • Persistent swelling in the legs.
  • Further surgery may be necessary to address complications.

Breast Augmentation-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with Breast Augmentation surgery may include:

  • Breast Implant Associated ALCL – a rare lymphoma, please read more here Dr Taylor’s Statement on BIA-ALCL.
  • Seroma, or fluid accumulation around the implant after surgery. Seroma is a collection of serum, the thin straw coloured fluid that the body exudes when healing wounds. Preventing a seroma may involve drains and compression garments.
  • Changes in breast and nipple sensation
  • Temporary or permanent areas of numbness
  • Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
  • Capsular contracture, where firm scar tissue forms around the implant causing it to lose shape and softness
  • Inappropriate implant size
  • Implant rupture or deflation
  • Asymmetry (unevenness) of the breasts
  • Calcium deposits in the scar capsule around the implant
  • Granulomas, or lumps in local lymph node tissue formed by leaking silicone
  • Breastfeeding difficulties, including reduced milk supply
  • Reduced effectiveness of breast cancer screening, since an implant may hide breast tissue (and tumours) during a mammogram
  • Movement of the implants from their original position
  • Further surgery to treat complications

Breast Reduction-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with breast reduction surgery may include:

  • Scars may remain red and raised for several months to one year. Ideally, the reduction wounds heal as thin white seams. Scar management is a part of the support we offer to our patients.
  • Seroma, or fluid accumulation around the implant after surgery. Seroma is a collection of serum, the thin straw coloured fluid that the body exudes when healing wounds. Preventing a seroma may involve drains and compression garments.
  • Skin discoloration, such as permanent pigmentation changes
  • Fat necrosis, skin necrosis or potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
  • Changes in breast and nipple sensation
  • Temporary or permanent areas of numbness
  • Asymmetry (unevenness) of the breasts
  • Damage to deeper structures – such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and lungs – can occur and may be temporary or permanent
  • Need for further surgery to treat complications

Breast Reduction surgery may involve Liposuction. Risks specifically associated with liposuction surgery may include:

  • Complications caused by the injection of anaesthetic fluid can include lignocaine toxicity (if the solution’s lignocaine content is too high) or collection of fluid in the lungs (if too much fluid is given). This can occur in tumescent and super-wet liposuction.
  • Excessive fluid loss, which can lead to shock.
  • Fluid accumulation.
  • Infection that develop in fatty tissues. This can be a serious complication and can be difficult to treat.
  • Friction burns or other damage to the skin or nerves.
  • Irregular skin surface, uneven contours or rippling, asymmetric or ‘baggy’ skin surface.
  • Skin pigmentation changes, skin discolouration or swelling.
  • Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs and abdominal organs.
  • Persistent swelling in the legs.
  • Further surgery may be necessary to address complications.

Removal and Replacement of Breast Implants-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with breast implant removal surgery may include:

  • Scars may remain red and raised for several months to one year. Ideally, the reduction wounds heal as thin white seams. Scar management is a part of our support we offer to our patients.

 

Risks specifically associated with any breast implant surgery may include:

  • Breast Implant Associated ALCL – a rare lymphoma, please read more here Dr Taylor’s Statement on BIA-ALCL.
  • Seroma, or fluid accumulation around the implant after surgery. Seroma is a collection of serum, the thin straw coloured fluid that the body exudes when healing wounds. Preventing a seroma may involve drains and compression garments.
  • Changes in breast and nipple sensation
  • Temporary or permanent areas of numbness
  • Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
  • Capsular contracture, where firm scar tissue forms around the implant causing it to lose shape and softness
  • Inappropriate implant size
  • Implant rupture or deflation
  • Asymmetry (unevenness) of the breasts
  • Calcium deposits in the scar capsule around the implant
  • Granulomas, or lumps in local lymph node tissue formed by leaking silicone
  • Breastfeeding difficulties, including reduced milk supply
  • Reduced effectiveness of breast cancer screening, since an implant may hide breast tissue (and tumours) during a mammogram
  • Movement of the implants from their original position
  • Further surgery to treat complications

Rhinoplasty-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with rhinoplasty surgery may include:

  • Pain that may be severe and ongoing
  • Numbness in the nose, or altered sensation after the bruising and swelling subside. The upper front teeth may feel numb temporarily.
  • Unsatisfactory appearance of the nose, and the client may require revisional surgery
  • Sense of smell may be impaired, and in rare cases lost or distorted
  • Visible swelling of the nose that may persist for weeks or months
  • Skin under the eyes may be darkened for a period of over six months
  • Loss or weakness of the structural support, resulting in a flattened nose and need for further surgery.
  • If an implant if used, it may extrude into the nose or through the skin
  • Airway narrowing, causing difficulty in breathing through the nose or airway obstruction
  • Reddening of the nasal skin caused by increased prominence of the tiny blood vessels in the skin

Facelift-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with facial surgery may include:

  • Bleeding can occur during and after the operation. Dr Taylor takes appropriate measures taken to reduce bleeding where possible during the surgery. Any ooze after the operation is controlled by the drains and compressive head bandage.
  • Wound infection is uncommon in facial surgery. Antibiotics are administered during the operation to prevent this as much as possible, and wound care instructions provided before your discharge.
  • Deformity of the earlobe as the ear can occasionally be pulled forward during a facelift operation producing a forward projecting earlobe. Extra skin is left in the region of the earlobe and this can produce an unusual appearance but it settles within days.
  • Hair loss as a small amount of hair is shaved around the sideburn and behind the ear. This grows back over a few weeks. It is not more than 1cm in width and can almost always be hidden post operatively. Hair loss around the scars is rare as minimal tension is employed inside the hairline. These scars rarely seem to widen to result in hair styling problems.
  • Numbness of the cheek and ear Sensation gradually returns over several months, and is rarely permanent. Sensory regeneration seems to happen on an individual timetable and is difficult to predict. The cheeks feel quite tight following the procedure. Jaw opening feels strange and it sometimes feels as if the mid face is in a vice. These sensations settle down by about six to eight weeks as swelling leaves the deeper mobilisation of the face.
  • Asymmetry There are often slight differences between the right and left sides of the face during the healing phase. This usually settles down by about six to eight weeks, but increased swelling on one side is not unusual. It is rarely severe and, by the time visible bruising settles in at about three weeks, it is rarely enough to cause comment.
  • Facial nerve damage, though, this is unusual with facelift. Liposuction of the jowl region may cause fine mouth asymmetry for 2-3 weeks after the operation as the muscle is damaged. The other area at risk is the brow, with weakness of eyebrow raising. This usually returns after a couple of months.
  • Revisional surgery may be necessary to correct complications

Blepharoplasty-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with blepharoplasty surgery may include:

  • Infection is uncommon in facial operations, especially in eye operations. Antibiotics are administered during the operation to prevent this as much as possible, and wound care instructions provided before your discharge.
  • Upper Eyelid skin redundancy Skin resection of the upper eyelid is done in a conservative fashion to preserve eye closing, which is frequently impaired. This may relax over a period of time and some skin redundancy may be visible at about six months or so or even earlier. Further surgery to remove skin needs to wait six months to allow all the swelling to come out of the brow and upper lid area.
  • Lower eyelid drooping will usually recover but occasionally requires further surgery.
  • Blindness is an extremely rare risk of an upper eyelid operation is blindness caused by bleeding around and behind the eye.
  • Removal of too much skin, possibly exposing the cornea to injury
  • Asymmetry of the eyelids
  • Scarring of the incisions that is noticeable
  • Itchiness, watering or dryness of the eyes
  • Temporary changes in vision. In rare cases, changes in vision may be long lasting or permanent

Browlift-specific Risks

Risks specifically associated with browlift surgery may include:

  • Asymmetry of the upper eyelids following a browlift. After six months this asymmetry could be corrected with a little bit more skin excision on the heavier side.
  • Nerve Damage Nerves are identified and protected during the operation. However, brow elevation does cause a degree of nerve stretch and this can cause the nerve to go on strike for a while. Areas of forehead numbness, along with areas of discomfort, are not uncommon and it can take a couple of months for full forehead sensation to return.
  • Motor Nerve Injury The nerves that control eyebrow raising and frowning travel more superficially than the surgical plane which is right down on the bone. These nerves are rarely seen, let alone injured, in this operation.
  • Infection is uncommon in facial operations, especially in eye operations. Antibiotics are administered during the operation to prevent this as much as possible, and wound care instructions provided before your discharge.
  • Upper Eyelid skin redundancy Skin resection of the upper eyelid is done in a conservative fashion to preserve eye closing, which is frequently impaired owing to the initial tension of the browlift. This may relax over a period of time and some skin redundancy may be visible at about six months or so or even earlier. Further surgery to remove skin needs to wait six months to allow all the swelling to come out of the brow and upper lid area.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY COMPLICATIONS POST-SURGERY, CONTACT OUR AFTER-HOURS NUMBER IMMEDIATELY:

(02) 6282 1153

IN THE CASE OF SEVERE MEDICAL OR RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS, CALL THE 000 EMERGENCY LINE FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

 

 

Book Your Personal Consultation with Dr Taylor

Copyright The CAPS Clinic | All Rights Reserved