Abdominal Liposuction: Potential Side Effects & Recovery

Abdominal liposuction is a type of cosmetic surgery to remove excess fat from the abdomen. According to the National Library of Medicine, liposuction is a serious surgery that requires local or general anesthesia and a significant recovery time. The side effects of abdominal liposuction depend on overall health, the technique used and the amount of fat removed.

Bruising

• Bruising of the skin of the abdomen, especially around the incision sites, is a common side effect of abdominal liposuction and usually resolves in 5 to 10 days.

Swelling

• Liposuction techniques include flushing the body with large amounts of fluid, some of which may be retained and cause swelling.

Numbness

• Numbness and tingling of the skin and tissues of the abdomen is common after liposuction and may persist for several weeks after surgery.

Pain

• Abdominal liposuction may result in pain in the muscles and organs of the abdomen and may be worse at the sites of the incisions.

Scarring

• The skin on the abdomen may take on a scarred, wrinkled or saggy appearance after abdominal liposuction and additional surgery may be required to remove excess skin.

Infections

• Bacterial infections of the skin or internal organs can be caused by bacterial contamination of the surgical instruments or of the incisions after surgery.

Internal Bleeding

• Internal bleeding or bleeding from the wound sites can be caused by blood vessels or internal organs being nicked by a surgical instrument or by loosening of the stitches or staples closing the incisions.