Don’t try it lightly! A “net celebrity” died from liposuction infection, doctors warn →

During liposuction surgery, the doctor first injects "fat swelling fluid" into the liposuction area. This fluid can reduce bleeding in the surgical area, has an analgesic effect, and can also make the fat tissue "fluffy", making the surgical operation easier.

Next, the doctor inserts a liposuction needle several millimeters thick into the fat layer, and uses negative pressure to move the needle evenly and repeatedly in the fat layer to gradually suck out the deep fat.

If you perform liposuction and autologous fat grafting at the same time, the sucked fat needs to be separated and purified under sterile conditions, and then injected into the area you want to fill, such as the face, breasts or buttocks.

Thighs, upper arms, waist, abdomen, face, etc. are all common areas for liposuction. In the opinion of Dr. Yin Hongyu, Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery at Beijing Century Altar Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, liposuction is a routine operation in plastic and cosmetic surgery, but it must be performed properly, safely and effectively.

However, risks always come quietly. In May this year, Xiao Ran, an Internet celebrity, went to Hangzhou Huayan Medical Cosmetology Hospital for liposuction and other medical cosmetic surgeries. After the surgery, she suffered from septic shock and died on July 13 after unsuccessful treatment.

Screenshot of netizens’ posts

On July 15, the Hangzhou Municipal Health Commission reported that after expert evaluation, this was a medical accident. Huayan Medical Cosmetology Hospital had faults such as lack of awareness before the operation, improper operation during the operation, and untimely observation and treatment after the operation. There was a causal relationship between the patient's death and the hospital bears full responsibility.

Screenshot of Hangzhou Municipal Health Commission’s report

In an interview with Science and Technology Daily, Yin Hongyu said that there are potential risks in improper liposuction surgery.

"First is the risk of excessive bleeding. The amount of liposuction must be controlled during liposuction surgery. You cannot just remove as much as you want. If too much liposuction is done, the amount of bleeding will naturally increase. The human body has limited blood, and if the bleeding exceeds a certain amount, problems will occur, and it may even be life-threatening," said Yin Hongyu.

Due to many influencing factors, there is no rigid upper limit for the amount of liposuction. Yin Hongyu suggested, "The amount of liposuction in one operation should not exceed 4,000 to 5,000 milliliters, otherwise there is a risk of hemorrhagic shock due to excessive blood loss. Generally speaking, it is safer to control the amount of liposuction within 3,000 milliliters. Plastic surgery must keep in mind a basic principle: the safety and health of the patient comes first."

"The second is the risk of anesthesia overdose. The fat swelling fluid contains a certain proportion of anesthetics. If the amount of liposuction is large, more swelling fluid needs to be injected. If the amount of anesthetics exceeds a certain body concentration, it will cause a toxic reaction, which can be life-threatening in severe cases." Yin Hongyu said.

In addition, improper aseptic operation during surgery will bring the risk of infection. Once liposuction surgery is infected, the consequences are very serious. Experts explained that the fat layer is spread under the skin. After the liposuction operation is completed, the fat layer in the surgical area is interconnected. Once contaminated, it will present diffuse cellulitis, which will cause large-scale infection. "The entire surgical process must strictly follow aseptic operation, and the same applies to postoperative dressing changes and suture removal." Yin Hongyu said that if an infection occurs but is not treated in time, it may cause serious consequences or even endanger life.

"For a regular surgeon, strict aseptic operation is the first principle. You should choose a regular medical beauty institution and find a qualified professional plastic surgeon to perform liposuction surgery." Yin Hongyu said.

Another potential risk of liposuction is fat embolism. Yin Hongyu said: "If a blood vessel ruptures and fat enters the blood, embolism may occur. If a large amount of liposuction is done, it will take a longer operation time and cause greater surgical trauma, thus increasing the risk of blood vessel rupture and fat entering the blood. Once fat embolism occurs, the skin in the embolism area may necrotize in mild cases, and in severe cases, it may cause organ damage or even death."

Experts remind that some people are not suitable for liposuction, such as those with organic or underlying diseases, those who are on their period, pregnant, or breastfeeding, those who have inflammation or infection in the surgical area, those who have too high expectations for the effect of liposuction, or those who are systemically obese and want to lose weight through liposuction. "In addition, liposuction is not a one-time solution, and there is a possibility of rebound after the operation. You still need to control your diet to maintain the effect of weight maintenance," Yin Hongyu emphasized.

◎ Dai Xiaopei, a reporter from Science and Technology Daily

Source: Science and Technology Daily

Editor: Zhang Shuang

Reviewer: Wang Xiaolong

Final judge: He Yi