La plastic surgery consists of performing one or more interventions on the body of a man or a woman in order to correct a malformation or improve the aesthetic appearance of the face, breasts or body. Certainly an act of plastic surgery, whether for aesthetic or reconstructive purposes, involves complications, like any intervention.
Complications are, however, rare. They depend mainly on the patient's general condition, the complexity of the procedure, and the skill of the practitioner. They are significantly increased by smoking, which must be stopped 1 month before the procedure.
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Reasons for resorting to cosmetic surgery
La plastic surgery is a practice applicable to several parts of the body and can meet a variety of needs. There are many reasons that motivate the patient to resort to plastic surgery such as :
- Correct changes caused by significant weight loss or pregnancy.
- Correct the anatomy
- Reduce the appearance of scars or physical after-effects that may be caused by an accident or other surgery.
- Improvement of patient's self-esteem
- Increase comfort and improve patient posture through breast reduction and reconstruction, removal of excess skin from the abdomen, for example.
Thanks to new technologies, the plastic surgery provides a quick and rather satisfactory result, but also involves certain complications.
Complications in cosmetic surgery
Before the operation, the patient must be informed of all the risks and complications that may be caused by the plastic surgeryThe frequency and severity of these complications vary greatly.
Hematoma
A hematoma is an accumulation of blood in the surgical wound that can occur during the first few hours after surgery. Most of the time, this accumulation of blood resolves spontaneously. However, when it is large, it can stretch the skin and compromise its vascularization. It can also compress certain deep structures or cause significant pain.
Serous effusion
This phenomenon, which varies greatly in frequency depending on the location, is the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the area of the operation, which is more or less associated with significant edema. It is more common in areas rich in lymph nodes such as the axillary and inguinal regions and generally results in a transient increase in volume. It disappears spontaneously and gradually, but sometimes requires punctures.
Infection
What promotes local infection is the presence of bacteria in the surgical wound or in certain areas of the patient's body, or a reduction in natural defenses.
After the second postoperative day, increased pain or fever should raise concerns about infection and lead you to contact your surgeon again.
Algodystrophy
In hand surgery, CRPS refers to a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, which is not under the patient's voluntary control. The hand may be swollen, painful, and stiff. This complication can be triggered by postoperative pain.
Moreover, if appropriate treatment is initiated early, most of these complications have a favorable outcome. Sometimes emergency reoperation is therefore necessary for certain complications such as infection and hematomas.
There are certain signs that should prompt you to quickly get back in touch with your surgeon, which are as follows:
– Increased pain after the second postoperative day
– Sensation of certain sleepless night pains.
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Procedures that lead to complications in cosmetic surgery
Carry out interventions in several stages
Multi-stage interventions, whether for finishing or touch-ups, require several operating times. The outcome of a procedure cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. Similarly, each individual's healing process results in varying results. It should be noted that touch-ups are always possible after the procedure.
Smoking before and after surgery
Smoking increases the risk of surgical complications from any surgery, especially in plastic surgery. Because tobacco contains three components that have serious repercussions on the ability to heal: nicotine, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. For this reason, it is necessary to stop smoking 6-8 weeks before the operation to eliminate this risk.
Exposing cosmetic surgery scars to the sun
In the year following the plastic surgery, sun exposure is strongly discouraged. Prolonged and unprotected sun exposure causes negative and irreversible effects on exposed scars. This can trigger a permanent epidermal reaction resulting in scars that become darker and more pronounced instead of fading. After all plastic surgery, it is recommended to avoid sunlight and heat as much as possible.