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Dangers of Local Anesthetic Liposuction
Lately it seems patients are interested in having a
number of procedures performed under “Local anesthesia”. My assumption is that patients may
associate local anesthesia as a more trivial and possibly less expensive anesthetic.
Using
local anesthesia during liposuction is more dangerous than other procedures
performed with local anesthetic. Another case publicized in the news recently describes a woman who died
in Florida after undergoing local anesthetic liposuction.
The cause of death in “Local anesthetic” liposuction
is usually caused by administration of high doses of Lidocaine. This medication has two purposes. Firstly it has properties that help
reduce pain while undergoing the procedure. The
second feature is constriction of the blood vessels to
help reduction in bleeding and postoperative bruising. The danger in using this medication is caused by using high doses. Lidocaine absorbed in
the patient’s tissue can lead to cardiac toxicity. If too much is given to the patient, the heart will actually
stop beating.
When patients have liposuction under local anesthesia
they may experience pain as the procedure is performed. A physician that does not follow the
strict guidelines of Lidocaine dosages could inadvertently give too much of the
medication in trying to control the discomfort. The sequela as mentioned previously could result in cardiac
toxicity.
Small area liposuction for touch-ups of remnant fatty
tissue is a very safe procedure.
Even some larger areas of liposuction can be performed under local
anesthetic, as long as the patients’ pain tolerance is reasonable and the
medication guidelines are followed.
It is recommended that large areas of liposuction be
performed under a general anesthetic with a licensed professional in the field of anesthesia. The safety of the
patient is paramount, and an Anesthetist/Anesthesiologist can manage pain and
all cardiac issues to keep you safe.
Equally as important is the patient’s awareness of
doctors training that will be performing the procedure. A Plastic or Cosmetic Surgeon is
properly trained in liposuction and the critical anatomy involved. Many Non-surgical physicians are doing
cosmetic surgeries, and they lack the proper surgical training to do so. No weekend course can replace the years
of training a Plastic or Cosmetic Surgeon endures to learn their craft.
If anybody has any questions or concerns regarding this issue, please feel free to contact me at my office, during normal business hours.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeffrey Cole
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