Plastic Surgery Risks and Complications: What Every Patient Should Know

Every surgical procedure carries some degree of risk, and plastic surgery is no exception. While modern cosmetic surgery is safer than ever thanks to advances in anesthesia, surgical techniques, and post-operative care, patients must understand the potential complications before going under the knife. Knowledge is your strongest tool for making an informed decision and achieving the safest possible outcome.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the overall complication rate for elective cosmetic procedures remains relatively low when performed by board-certified surgeons in accredited facilities. However, the specific risks vary depending on the procedure, your overall health, and the experience of your surgical team. This guide covers the most common and serious risks you should discuss with your surgeon.

Most Common Plastic Surgery Risks

• Infection: Surgical site infections occur in approximately 1-3% of cosmetic procedures. Signs include increasing redness, warmth, swelling, and discharge from the incision. Most infections are treatable with antibiotics when caught early, but severe cases may require additional surgery to drain abscesses or remove infected tissue.
• Hematoma and Seroma: A hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin, while a seroma is a buildup of clear fluid. Both are among the most common complications following procedures like facelifts and tummy tucks. They may resolve on their own or require drainage by your surgeon.
• Scarring: All surgery produces some scarring, though skilled surgeons place incisions in concealed locations. Some patients develop hypertrophic or keloid scars, which are raised and thickened. Risk factors include genetics, skin type, and wound tension.
• Nerve Damage: Temporary numbness around the surgical site is common and usually resolves within weeks to months. Permanent nerve damage is rare but can result in loss of sensation or, in facial procedures, asymmetric muscle movement.
• Anesthesia Complications: General anesthesia carries its own set of risks including allergic reactions, nausea, respiratory issues, and in extremely rare cases, life-threatening events. Your anesthesiologist will review your medical history to minimize these risks.

Procedure-Specific Risks to Know

Rhinoplasty carries unique risks such as nasal obstruction, septal perforation, and asymmetry that may require revision surgery. Approximately 5-15% of rhinoplasty patients ultimately seek a revision procedure to refine their results or correct functional issues. The nose's complex anatomy makes it one of the most technically challenging procedures in plastic surgery.

Breast augmentation risks include capsular contracture, where scar tissue tightens around the implant causing firmness and discomfort. Implant rupture, malposition, and rippling are other implant-specific complications. The FDA recommends MRI screening for silicone implant integrity starting 5-6 years after placement.

Liposuction risks include contour irregularities, fluid imbalance, and fat embolism. Large-volume liposuction removing more than 5 liters of fat carries higher risks and typically requires overnight hospital monitoring. Skin laxity after fat removal is another concern, particularly in older patients or those with reduced skin elasticity.

How to Minimize Your Risk of Complications

1. Choose a Board-Certified Surgeon: Verify your surgeon holds certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This ensures they have completed an accredited residency and passed rigorous examinations specific to plastic surgery.
2. Disclose Your Full Medical History: Be completely honest about medications, supplements, recreational drug use, smoking habits, and prior surgeries. Withholding information can lead to dangerous drug interactions or unexpected complications during surgery.
3. Follow Pre-Operative Instructions: Stop smoking at least 4-6 weeks before surgery, discontinue blood-thinning medications and supplements like aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, and fish oil as directed, and maintain a healthy diet to support healing.
4. Prepare Your Recovery Environment: Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for at least 24-48 hours. Set up a recovery area with essentials within easy reach to minimize unnecessary movement.
5. Attend All Follow-Up Appointments: Post-operative visits allow your surgeon to catch complications early when they are most treatable. Never skip a follow-up even if you feel fine, as some issues develop silently.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

While most plastic surgery recovery follows a predictable course, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Contact your surgeon or go to the emergency room if you experience sudden severe pain that is not controlled by prescribed medication, fever above 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, excessive bleeding or drainage from incisions, shortness of breath or chest pain, or signs of deep vein thrombosis such as calf swelling, warmth, and tenderness.

Blood clots are among the most dangerous post-surgical complications. Deep vein thrombosis can progress to a pulmonary embolism, which is potentially fatal. Your surgeon will likely prescribe blood thinners or compression devices and encourage early ambulation to reduce this risk, especially after longer procedures like body contouring or combined surgeries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common complication after plastic surgery?

Hematoma, the collection of blood beneath the skin, is one of the most frequently reported complications across all plastic surgery procedures. It occurs in roughly 1-6% of cases depending on the procedure type. While small hematomas may resolve on their own, larger ones typically require drainage to prevent further complications such as infection or skin necrosis.

How dangerous is plastic surgery compared to other surgeries?

Elective cosmetic surgery generally carries a lower risk profile than many medically necessary surgeries because patients are typically healthy and procedures are planned in advance. The mortality rate for cosmetic surgery is estimated at approximately 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000 procedures when performed by board-certified surgeons. However, risk increases significantly when patients combine multiple procedures or use unqualified practitioners.

Can you die from plastic surgery?

While extremely rare, fatalities from plastic surgery do occur, most commonly due to anesthesia complications, pulmonary embolism, or complications from large-volume procedures. Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon, operating in an accredited facility with proper emergency equipment, and following all pre- and post-operative instructions dramatically reduces this risk.

What plastic surgery procedures have the highest complication rate?

Body contouring procedures such as Brazilian butt lifts, large-volume liposuction, and combined procedures involving multiple surgical sites tend to have higher complication rates. The Brazilian butt lift historically carried the highest mortality rate of any cosmetic procedure, though updated safety protocols have significantly improved outcomes in recent years.

How long after plastic surgery can complications occur?

Most acute complications like bleeding and infection emerge within the first 1-2 weeks after surgery. However, some complications develop months or even years later. Capsular contracture after breast augmentation can occur years post-surgery, and late-onset infections, though rare, have been reported. Follow your surgeon's long-term monitoring recommendations for your specific procedure.

Preview Your Results Today

Use our AI-powered plastic surgery simulator to visualize how different procedures will look on you before making any decisions.