Most Common Side Effects of Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

Unlike medically necessary surgeries, the vast majority of cosmetic surgeries are elective, meaning that they are not performed to correct for an injury or illness. As a result of this, many people have a tendency to consider cosmetic surgical procedures as not being “actual surgery.” Our staff at Jefferson Plastic Surgery encounters this belief among many of our prospective patients who come in for an initial consultation visit. Time and again, we stress to our patients that cosmetic surgery carries the same side effects as medically necessary surgery. Below are some of the more common side effects patients may undergo following a cosmetic surgical procedure. To learn more about cosmetic surgery side effects, contact Jefferson Plastic Surgery in Philadelphia, PA.

Bruising and Swelling

Bruising and swelling around the area of any incisions are two of the most common side effects following surgical procedures. They are part of the body’s natural defense in response to the skin being cut open by attempting to isolate that area from the rest of the body. Depending upon the extent and location of the incisions, bruising and swelling can last anywhere from one to three weeks.

Following surgery, patients will be given a special compression garment to wear, which is designed to help reduce the duration and amount of bruising and swelling. Using ice packs and cold compresses once the incisions have fully healed over will also help reduce bruising and swelling, as will taking the herb Arnica montana.

Seromas and Hematomas

Seromas are pockets of fluid under the skin that can form around the incision site, and hematomas are pools of blood that can form in the same area. These are most common following procedures in which an extensive amount of tissue is removed, such as a tummy tuck or breast reduction procedure. For such procedures, surgeons will often insert surgical drains to help remove blood and fluid, thus preventing the formation of seromas and hematomas. Compression garments, as mentioned above, can also help reduce fluid and blood from pooling around incision sites following surgery. In most cases, the body will eventually reabsorb the pooled fluid or blood. However, seromas and hematomas can become infected in rare cases, requiring treatment with antibiotics or possible surgery.

Scarring

Any time that the skin is cut open, a scar will result as part of the natural healing process. However, proper care will reduce the amount and severity of scarring so that it is barely noticeable. Patients can actually start on a plan to minimize their scars even before surgery. Both alcohol and tobacco use can lengthen the time it takes for incisions to heal, as well as increase the severity of scarring. Our surgeons recommend stopping any alcohol or tobacco use starting at least two weeks prior to surgery. Optimally, surgery is a good reason to stop tobacco use in particular, but patients should wait until at least four weeks after surgery to resume.

The truth is that even elective procedures, such as cosmetic surgery, carry many of the same risks as medically necessary procedures. With proper care and knowledge, patients can minimize the side effects from their cosmetic surgery and be able to enjoy the results in a short time.

Contact Jefferson Plastic Surgery to schedule a cosmetic surgery consultation.