At your initial consultation, these risks will be discussed in great detail before you decide whether to move forward with the procedure.

Liposuction is a major surgical procedure. Over the past two decades, surgical liposuction techniques have improved greatly, making it very safe. However, like all surgeries, there are certain inherent risks involved. These risks can be separated into two categories:

• General risks – these are common to all surgical procedures
• Specific risks – these are unique to liposuction

General Risks

General risks associated with the liposuction include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Scarring
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Anesthesia risks

Specific Risks

The following risks are unique to liposuction procedures. While they only occur in rare instances, it is important to be aware of all potential complications that may result:

• Skin irregularities or wrinkles – This will be dependent on the skin elasticity of the treated region. Stretch marks, cellulite, and skin dimples are an indication of poor skin elasticity, which may increase your risk of skin irregularities and wrinkles. Post-operative massage can help smooth the treated region and reduce your risk of skin irregularities.
• Asymmetry – The two sides of your body are not identical. After your procedure, you may notice slight differences between the contour and size of each side of your body. This can be magnified by spinal conditions such as scoliosis.
• Changes in skin sensitivity – This is a common complication associated with liposuction and occurs to some extent in almost every patient. This altered sensitivity may be experienced either as increased tenderness or loss of sensation in the treated region. Generally, this will go away within two to four months following surgery. Massaging the treated region will increase blood circulation, which can aid in the process of recovering normal skin sensation.
• Pain and discomfort – You may experience discomfort similar to the feeling of having worked out too hard. At times, you may even experience stabbing pain in the treated area, but this can be controlled with pain medication. Pain and discomfort generally subside within a few weeks.
• Loose skin – If you have poor skin elasticity in the treated region, it may result in loose skin following your procedure. Dr. Grossman and Dr. Capraro can perform an additional procedure to tighten loose skin.
• Delayed healing – Very rarely, small areas of skin may have deficient blood supply, causing the formation of a sore or ulcer that delays healing. This is particularly true for cigarette smokers. Therefore, smoking (and the use of nicotine substitutes) should stop before surgery and not start again for at least ten days after surgery.

Other risks associated with liposuction include:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Lumpiness
• Waviness
• Discoloration

Please contact our Denver plastic surgeons today to schedule your initial liposuction consultation. Grossman Plastic Surgery serves patients in the Denver and Littleton, Colorado area.