Every surgical procedure has some kind of side-effects. Since liposuction is surgery, it too, has certain side-effects that you should know about. That is not to say that they should cause you concern; it is just something you need to cope with for the result you want. If you have concerns about anything, don’t be afraid to discuss it with your doctor beforehand.

Why there are variations in the side effects

There will be different side effects for different kinds of liposuction in Perth. It depends on: –

• The number of incisions – the side effects for a patient having only a few incisions will be quite different for someone who has many incisions over a wide area.
• The size of the area treated – as above. A larger area will require more incisions.
• What kind of anaesthetic is used. The general anaesthetic itself will often cause certain side effects such as nausea, vomiting and sometimes, chills. Since it is more a strong sedative than a pain killer, there will be more pain afterwards than if a local numbing agent is used alone – or used with it.

A positive side effect

A very positive side effect of this procedure is weight loss. When fat is sucked out, you will naturally lose weight even though liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. Fatty deposits that accumulate in various areas of your body cause unsightly lumps. Removing them with liposuction removes the lumps and enhances your body shape. That is why liposuction is considered to be a body sculpting procedure rather than a weight loss one.

Other side effects

• Bruising is a side effect of many surgical procedures and liposuction is no different. The movement of the cannula under the skin causes bruising that may take more than a week to disappear.
• Swelling is another side effect of the procedure, but this too, will gradually subside, though it may take longer than the bruising to completely disappear. The good thing about swelling is that it is often not very noticeable, especially under clothing.
• Slight bleeding, or rather, blood tinged fluid will escape from the incisions until it has all drained away. After this, they will start to heal.
• Soreness and tenderness will persist for up to 4 weeks after the initial pain wears off. This may require simple painkillers that your doctor will recommend. After that the problem will gradually decrease. Wearing an elastic compression garment will ease soreness considerably and help the incisions heal without the need for stitches.
• There may be some numbness around the affected area that should wear off gradually.
• There is a possibility of infection, but this is usually prevented before it starts by taking antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.