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
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
SLIDESHOW
Skin & Beauty: Anti-Aging Tips & Secrets to Look Younger See SlideshowHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
SOURCE: The National Women's Health Information Center (www4woman.gov) Last update: 5/19/2005
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Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
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Chemical Peel
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Dog Bite
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Moles
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Oral Cancer
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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.
Stitches
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