Introduction
Fighting the effects of aging on the outside; your guide to the risks of cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures
Trying to fight the effects of aging? Below is a basic guide to the risks involved in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. For more information on each procedure, click on the highlighted links of the procedure.
Cosmetic Procedures: Surgical
Breast Augmentation: Breasts are enlarged by placing an implant behind each breast.
Risks:
- implants can rupture, leak, and deflate
- infection
- hardening of scar tissue around implant, causing breast firmness, pain, distorted shape, or implant movement
- bleeding
- pain
- nipples may get more or less sensitive
- numbness near incision blood collection around implant/incision
- calcium deposits around implant
- harder to find breast lumps and to see breast changes on a mammogram
- in rare instances, implants can cause anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) - a rare cancer of the immune system
Breast Lift - Extra skin is removed from the breast to raise and reshape breast.
Risks:
- scarring
- skin loss
- infection loss of feeling in nipples or breast
- nipples put in the wrong place
- breasts not symmetrical
Breast Reduction - Fat, tissue, and skin is removed from breast.
Risks:
- if nipples and areola are detached, may lose sensation and decreased ability to breastfeed
- bleeding
- infection
- scarring
- harder to find breast lumps
- poor shape, size, or position of nipples or breasts
- if nipples and areola are detached, may lose sensation and decreased ability to breastfeed
- bleeding
- infection
- scarring
- harder to find breast lumps
- poor shape, size, or position of nipples or breasts
Eyelid Surgery: Extra fat, skin, and muscle in the upper and/or lower eyelid is removed to correct "droopy" eyelids.
Risks:
- blurred or double vision
- infection
- bleeding under the skin
- swelling
- dry eyes
- whiteheads
- can't close eye completely
- pulling of lower lids
- blindness
Facelift: Extra fat is removed, muscles are tightened, and skin is rewrapped around the face and neck to improve sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin.
Risks:
- infection
- bleeding under skin
- scarring
- irregular earlobes
- nerve damage causing numbness or inability to move your face
- hair loss
- skin damage
Facial Implant: infection feeling of tightness or scarring around implant shifting of implant
Risks:
- infection
- feeling of tightness or scarring around implant
- shifting of implant
Forehead Lift: Extra skin and muscles that cause wrinkles are removed, eyebrows are lifted, and forehead skin is tightened.
Risks:
- infection
- scarring
- bleeding under skin
- eye dryness or irritation
- impaired eyelid function
- loss of feeling in eyelid skin
- injury to facial nerve causing loss of motion or muscle weakness
Lip Augmentation: Material is injected or implanted into the lips to create fuller lips and reduce wrinkles around the mouth.
Risks:
- infection
- bleeding
- lip asymmetry
- lumping
- scarring
Liposuction: Excess fat from a targeted area is removed with a vacuum to shape the body.
Risks:
- baggy skin
- skin may change color and fall off
- fluid retention
- toxic shock
- infection that requires antibiotics or additional surgery
- burning
- fat clots in the lungs
- pain
- damage to organs if punctured
- numbness at the surgery site
- heart problems
- kidney problems
- disability
- death
Nose Surgery: Nose is reshaped by resculpting the bone and cartilage in the nose.
Risks:
- infection
- bursting blood vessels
- red spots
- bleeding under the skin
- scarring
Tummy Tuck: Extra fat and skin in the abdomen is removed, and muscles are tightened to flatten tummy.
Risks:
- blood clots
- infection
- bleeding
- scarring
- fluid accumulation under the skin
Quick GuideCosmetic Surgery: Before and After Photos of Cosmetic Surgeries
Cosmetic Procedures: Non-Surgical
Botox Injection: Botox is injected into a facial muscle to paralyze it, so lines don't form when a person frowns or squints.
Risks:
- face pain
- muscle weakness
- flu-like symptoms
- headaches
- loss of facial expression
- droopy eyelids
- asymmetric smile
- drooling
Collagen/fat Injection: Collagen from a cow or fat from your thigh or abdomen is injected into facial wrinkles, pits, or scars.
Risks:
Dermabrasion: A small, spinning wheel or brush with a roughened surface removes the upper layers of facial skin. A new layer of skin appears during healing, giving the face a smoother appearance. Used to treat facial scars, heavy wrinkles, and problems like rosacea.
Risks:
- abnormal color changes
- whiteheads
- infection
- allergic reaction
- fever blisters
- cold sores
- thickened skin
Hyaluronic acid injection: This gel is injected into your face to smooth lines, wrinkles, and scars on the skin.
Risks:
- swelling
- infection
- redness
- tenderness
- acne
- lumps
- tissue hardening
- risks unknown if used in combination with collagen
Laser hair removal: Laser light is passed over the skin to remove hair.
Risks:
- hair regrowth
- scarring
- change in skin color
Laser skin resurfacing: Laser light is used to remove wrinkles, lines, age spots, scars, moles, tattoos, and warts from the surface of the skin.
Risks:
- burns
- scarring
- change in skin color
- infection
- herpes flare-up (fever, facial pain, and flu-like symptoms)
Sclerotherapy: A solution is injected into spider and varicose leg veins (small purple and red blood vessels) to remove the veins.
Risks:
- blood clots
- color changes in the skin
- vein removal may not be permanent
- scarring
Chemical Peel: A solution is put onto the face (or parts of the face) that causes the skin to blister and peel off. It is replaced with new skin.
Risks:
- whiteheads
- Infection
- raised scarring
- allergic reaction
- cold sores
- color changes or blotchiness
- heart problems
Tooth Whiteners (peroxide agents):Depending on the product, either you or the dentist applies peroxide using strips; a mouth guard with gel; or a tray inside your mouth around your teeth
Risks:
- If not customized for you by a dentist or dental hygienist, there may be unknown ingredients and unknown results
SOURCE: The National Women's Health Information Center (www4woman.gov) Last update: 5/19/2005
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Birthmarks and Other Skin Pigmentation Problems
Birthmarks and other abnormal skin pigmentation is caused by the body's inability to produce enough melanin. Abnormal skin pigmentation can cause conditions such as vitiligo, pigmentation loss, melasma, albinism, port wine stains, macular stains and hemangioma.
Birthmarks Slideshow
Birthmarks can appear on the head, over the eye, or anywhere on the skin. To learn more about birthmarks explore this medical image gallery. Get information about birthmark pigmentation, color changes and health risks of birthmarks.
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure in which drooping of the lower and/or upper eyelids is reduced by removing excess skin, muscle, and fat. Complications of the procedure include bleeding, infection, dry eyes, an inability to fully close the eyes, eyelid skin that folds in or out abnormally, abnormal skin discoloration of the eyelids, and a pulled-down lower lid lash line or a possible loss of vision.
Chemical Peel
Chemical peels are performed to reduce fine lines, treat wrinkles, improve the appearance of mild scarring, treat some types of acne, and reduce age spots. During the treatment, a chemical solution is applied to the skin. The skin blisters and eventually peels off.
Dog Bite Treatment
A dog bites about 4.5 million people each year, and about 27,000 will need surgery. Dog bites often become infected, and will need medical treatment and management. Make sure that the dog’s rabies vaccination is current; if not, rabies treatment may be necessary.A dog bite may cause symptoms and signs like puncture wounds, lacerations, pain, swelling, and redness. Treatment and management of a dog bite in and infant, child, teen, or adult depends upon the severity of the wound.
Dog bites can be prevented by not approaching stray or unfamiliar dogs, especially if the dog is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies; always ask the dog owner if you can pet the dog, and do not make eye contact, run, or scream if a dog if you are confronted with a dog.
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Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer is cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, or lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck. These cancers account for 3% to 5% of cancers in the U.S. Tobacco and alcohol use are important risk factors. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat that is difficult to get rid of with diet and exercise. Liposuction does not prevent weight regain. Liposuction has a good safety record; risks of the procedure include infection and skin discoloration.
Mohs Surgery
Mohs micrographic surgery is a method of removing skin cancers with a local anesthetic. During the procedure, small layers of skin are removed and examined under a microscope until the skin samples indicate that all the cancer has been removed.
Moles
Moles are small skin growths that may appear flat or raised and are often tan, brown, black, reddish brown, or skin colored. They are typically about the size of a pencil eraser. There are three types of moles. Monthly skin self-exams are essential in the early detection of abnormal moles and melanomas.
Sclerotherapy
The procedure to eliminate varicose veins and spider veins is called sclerotherapy. Generally a salt solution is injected directly into the vein. The solution irritates the lining of the blood vessel, causing it to swell and stick together, and the blood to clot. After a period of time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades from view.
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