What are the side effects of cosmetic surgery?

The Western culture is mesmerized and yes, I’ll say it, obsessed with beauty. Sadly, as with many of our dysfunctional obsessions, they are catching on with the rest of the world. Cosmetic surgery has increased in popularity and acceptance over the last twenty years and now it’s not uncommon to see the wealthy, famous and even some political figures touting of their most recent fixes. If you are currently considering cosmetic surgery you might want to check out some of the side effects. This is considered major surgery and it is no walk-in-the-park.

The side effects of cosmetic surgery depend upon the type of surgery you are going to have. You will be under anesthesia and there is always a possibility of complications from that. If you are an at-risk patient, it could actually be dangerous. Your vocal chords can spasm and block air to your lungs. You may also have a severe allergic reaction to the chemicals in the anesthesia. In rare cases, this could cause death.

Most people prefer to talk about the post surgery side effects of cosmetic surgery. The most common is nausea and vomiting. This is largely due to the reaction from the anesthesia and usually doesn’t last long. If it continues, there are medications that can be given orally or intravenously as well as suppository medications that will relieve the symptoms.

A topic no one really likes to talk about is the possibility of blood clots as one of the side effects of cosmetic surgery. When any part of the body is left inactive for a long period of time the blood will begin to pool in the body and can turn into a clot. The clots can release and travel through the body. In the case of a large enough clot, it can enter the heart and cause death.

Suture problems can be another potential complication. If sewn or stapled too loose they can become completely undone and cause internal as well as external bleeding or hernias. If left untreated, it can cause significant enough damage that additional surgeries might be required.

During a surgery of any kind, the body is open for infection. While sterile conditions are of the utmost priority, some infections can occur. The body is in a weakened state while recuperating and this can lead to a lowered resistance to fight off infections. Severe infections are not common, but can be dangerous and possibly lead to death if untreated.

I have only ever observed one person in the post cosmetic surgery situation. A room mate had a nose job. Upon returning from the hospital, she was wrapped up like a mummy, had black eyes and could hardly talk. She remained that way for a few days, while she sipped her liquid diet through a straw. When the bandages came off, she continued to be in excruciating pain. The swelling in her face and eyes made her look like she had been beaten to near death. She slept a lot and couldn’t return to work for weeks. I always thought she was attractive and that her nose was just fine. Apparently she didn’t and was willing to go through weeks of misery and pain. I never wanted to tell her later that her nose really didn’t look that much different.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.