Today, more and more people are looking into plastic surgery in order to alter their body into something more flattering. If you are one of those who is considering plastic surgery procedures, you should first make yourself aware of the different side effects that it entails. Naturally, different plastic surgery interventions can result in different side effects, but there are common side effects that all plastic surgery procedures share.
One of the most common side effects of any plastic surgery procedure is the formation of a seroma. This is a condition wherein fluids accumulate at the side or near the site where the surgery is done. This results in swelling, and it can be painful. The more work is done on the body, the greater amount of swelling is to be expected. Usually, the seroma will be reabsorbed by the body on its own, and the swelling subsides. When the seroma is larger, there is a need to drain it. Drainage tubes can be placed by surgeons where they expect the seroma to form to aid them in draining the fluid.
Another common side effect is the formation of a hematoma. A hematoma is similar to a seroma, but instead of a fluid, the accumulation is comprised of blood. This is the reason why you may see some bruising after the surgery. The bruises will also eventually disappear as the blood gets reabsorbed by the body.
Infection is another common side effect. In order to lessen the risk of infection, patients must carefully select their surgeons and must learn how to care for themselves properly after the surgery. The infection may not happen during the surgery, but it can happen after the surgery when the wound is still healing. Because of the incision from the surgery, infectious agents can have access to the tissue. In order to prevent this, most surgeons will prescribe antibiotics for the patient to take during their recovery period. It is also important that patients properly clean the area or don’t touch the incision site to prevent infection.
The formation of a scar is also common. The incision made will heal into a scar, and the degree of scarring depends on a lot of factors. Some patients develop less obvious scars while others can develop large and keloidal ones. For some patients, the scarring is enough for them to reconsider having the procedure.
Patients who undergo plastic surgery procedure also have the chance to develop deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a clot in the veins of the leg due to inactivity. This clot can travel to the lungs and can cause a fatal condition called pulmonary embolism. This is why patients who have gone through surgery are required to walk and refrain from sitting or lying down for too long. It can be challenging to move and walk around because of the surgery, but patients should do it in order to make sure they don’t develop blood clots.