The Risks of Plastic Surgery

The Risks of Plastic Surgery

With plastic surgery procedures continuing at a steady growth, many complications can occur. In 2014, there were 15.6 million cosmetic procedures and 5.8 million reconstructive procedures. Plastic surgery procedures, however, carry serious health risks. While the reason for plastic surgery differs from person to person, the health risks involved from such procedures are all the same. Some post-operative complications are unavoidable, while others could be due to medical malpractice.

The need for awareness.

While this is not an exhaustive list of health risks that can result from a procedure gone wrong, below are some of the common risks to look out for after a plastic surgery procedure:

Infection

Complications from anesthesia—anesthesia (some form thereof) is used in almost any procedure. Complications can lead to lung infections, stroke, heart attacks, and even death.

Nerve or Organ damage—with so many nerves in our body, potential for nerve damage is present in many surgical procedures; plastic surgery can create numbness and/or tingling afterwards.

Hematoma—a collection of blood outside the blood vessels can visibly resemble a large bruise and may require additional operations to drain the blood.

Seroma—occurs when blood plasma pools beneath the surface of the skin due to ruptured blood vessels which can result in swelling and pain. Seromas can become infected and may need to be drained with a needle.

Responsibilities of a plastic surgeon.

A huge part of a plastic surgeon’s job is educating patients about safety concerns or risks associated with the procedures the patient wants. For example, a surgeon must instruct his patient on the proper aftercare following the procedure. Additionally, a plastic surgeon’s job is not finished once a patient leaves recovery. Rather, a surgeon must schedule follow-up appointments to check the healing of the procedures and check for any warning signs of infection or other complications, or adjust the recovery plan as necessary. If a plastic surgeon fails to uphold his duties, he is subject to the consequences.

Plastic Surgeon Ethics.

The Hippocratic Oath, the most famous text in Western medicine, instructs doctors to act in the best interests of their patients. When unjust circumstances arise, doctors should strive to correct the injustice harming their patients. Additionally, doctors should refrain from immoral behavior and resist the temptations that accompany their privileged position. The Hippocratic Oath requires doctors to acknowledge the limits of their competence and keep patient information confidential. Doctors must respect the Hippocratic Oath; if they do not, they are subject to punishment.

If you or a loved one is a victim of medical malpractice resulting from a plastic surgery procedure, it is important to call an attorney immediately. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael Cordova are experienced in medical malpractice claims involving plastic surgery procedures gone wrong.