What are the Long-Term Effects of Cosmetic Surgery?

As a plastic surgeon, I'm often asked about the long-term effects of cosmetic surgery. While cosmetic surgery can be a great way to improve your appearance, it's important to understand the potential risks and complications that can arise. Abnormal healing due to skin rupture, separation of the surgical wound, nerve damage, hematoma, infection, scarring, anesthesia complications, and blood loss are all potential risks associated with cosmetic surgery. In addition, there is a risk of addiction to cosmetic surgery and its associated psychological consequences.

Skin rupture is a common complication of cosmetic surgery. This occurs when the skin is stretched too far during the procedure and tears. This can lead to abnormal healing and may require additional procedures to repair the damage. Nerve damage is another potential complication of cosmetic surgery. Numbness and tingling are common after plastic surgery and may be signs of nerve damage. In some cases, this damage may be permanent.

Hematoma is a risk in almost all surgeries. This occurs when blood pools in the area of the surgery and can cause swelling and pain. Treatment may include additional operations to drain the blood if it is large or grows rapidly. Infection is another common complication of plastic surgery. Skin infection (cellulitis) may occur after surgery, and in some cases, infections can be internal and severe and require intravenous (IV) antibiotics.

Scarring is another potential risk associated with cosmetic surgery. Hypertrophic scarring is an abnormally raised scar that is red and thick. General anesthesia can also cause complications such as lung infections, strokes, heart attacks, and death. Becoming aware of anesthesia or waking up in the middle of surgery is very rare but possible.

Finally, there is a risk of addiction to cosmetic surgery and its associated psychological consequences. Men's limited interest in BCS (Body Contouring Surgery) is not surprising considering that 90% of aesthetic procedures are performed on women who may feel more pressure to maintain a slim youthful figure. Highlighting and analyzing adverse events in published literature will help make cosmetic procedures less risky and help introduce newer and safer techniques.

It's important to understand the potential risks associated with cosmetic surgery before undergoing any procedure. During the consultation process for cosmetic surgery, your surgeon will ask you about your medical history and discuss any potential risks or complications that may arise from the procedure.