Abstract
Background
Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures. It is performed worldwide as an outpatient procedure. However, the complications are underestimated and underreported by caregivers. We present a case of delayed diagnosis of bilothorax secondary to liver and gallbladder injury after tumescent liposuction.
Methods
A 26-year-old female patient was transferred to our emergency department from an aesthetic clinic with worsening dyspnea, tachypnea and fatigue. She had undergone extensive liposuction of the thighs, buttocks, back and abdomen 5 days prior to presentation.
Results
A chest X-ray showed significant right-sided pleural effusion. Thoracentesis was performed and drained bilious fluid. CT scan of the abdomen revealed pleural, liver and gall bladder injury. An exploratory laparoscopy confirmed the findings, the collections were drained; cholecystectomy and intraoperative cholangiogram were performed. The patient did very well postoperatively and was discharged home in 2 days.
Conclusion
Even though liposuction is considered a simple office-based procedure, its complications can be fatal. The lack of strict laws that exclusively place this procedure in the hands of medical professionals allow these procedures to still be done by less experienced hands and in outpatient-based settings. Our case serves to highlight yet another unique but potentially fatal complication of liposuction.
Level of Evidence V
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Grazer FM, de Jong RH (2000) Fatal outcomes from liposuction: census survey of cosmetic surgeons. Plast Reconstr Surg 105(1):436–446
Pelosi MA III, Pelosi MA II (2010) Liposuction. Obstet Gynecol Clin N Am 37:507–519
Lehnhardt M, Homann HH, Daigeler A, Hauser J, Palka P, Steinau HU (2008) Major and lethal complications of liposuction: a review of 72 cases in Germany between 1998 and 2002. Plast Reconstr Surg 121(6):396e–403e
Zakine G, Baruch J, Dardour JC, Flageul G (2015) Perforation of viscera, a dramatic complication of liposuction: a review of 19 cases evaluated by experts in France between 2000 and 2012. Plast Reconstr Surg 135(3):743–750
Castellano JJ, Jackson RF (2011) A review of the complications of liposuction. Am J Cosmet Surg 28(4):204–211
Bellini E, Grieco MP, Raposio E (2017) A journey through liposuction and liposculture. Ann Med Surg 24:53–60
Harnett P, Koak Y, Baker D (2008) Splenic trauma during abdominal wall liposuction: a case report. J R Soc Med 101(4):201–203
Mallappa M, Rangaswamy M, Badiuddin MF (2007) Small intestinal perforation and peritonitis after liposuction. Aesthetic Plast Surg 31(5):589–592
Sharma D, Dalencourt G, Bitterly T, Benotti PN (2006) Small intestinal perforation and necrotizing fasciitis after abdominal liposuction. Aesthetic Plast Surg 30(6):712–716
Talmor M, Hoffman LA, Lieberman M (1997) Intestinal perforation after suction lipoplasty: a case report and review of the literature. Ann Plast Surg 38(2):169–172
Kattapuram TM, Avery LL (2010) Ureteral tear at the ureteropelvic junction: a complication of liposuction. Emerg Radiol 17(1):79–82
Coleman WP, Hanke CW, Glogau RG (2000) Does the specialty of the physician affect fatality rates in liposuction? A comparison of specialty specific data. Dermatol Surg 26(7):611–615
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ezzeddine, H., Husari, A., Nassar, H. et al. Life Threatening Complications Post-Liposuction. Aesth Plast Surg 42, 384–387 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-017-1058-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-017-1058-x