LAC 48:I.2347. Plastic Surgery

A. Facelift and Coronal Lift 1. bleeding or hematoma (blood clot) that may need to be evaluated; 2. infection, skin loss, poor healing that may require prolonged treatment; 3. hypertrophic (thick) scars that may need to be revised and injected to soften them; 4. discoloration and swelling in face and neck; 5. numbness and/or pain in face, neck, ears, scalp may be permanent; 6. seroma (accumulation of fluid) under skin may require a second surgery or drainage; 7. facial nerve damage that can cause facial paralysis; 8. loss of hair around incisions may be permanent; 9. facial asymmetry (unequal appearance); 10. contour irregularities (rippled and uneven) effects of skin surface. B. Abdominoplasty 1. bleeding and hematoma (blood clot) requiring evacuation; 2. infection that may require treatment and dressing changes for a prolonged period; 3. poor healing, necrosis (tissue loss), and dehiscence (wound opening) and may require a graft or secondary surgical procedure; 4. permanent scars that can become hypertrophic (thick) that may need revision or injections to soften the scars; 5. numbness or altered sensation in abdomen may be permanent; 6. swelling, tightness, discomfort and pain in abdominal area may be temporary, but can also be permanent; 7. blood transfusion reaction with adverse risk of hepatitis, aids, and other complications; 8. loss of umbilicus (naval/"bellybutton"); 9. seroma—accumulation of fluid under skin may require evacuation or drainage. C. Breast Reduction 1. bleeding or hematoma (blood clot) which may require secondary surgery; 2. blood transfusion may be necessary; 3. infection or open wound (dehiscence) that may require treatment and dressing changes or secondary surgery; 4. poor healing and necrosis of skin (tissue loss); 5. permanent hypertrophic (thick) scars around nipple, down to the breast crease, and under breast crease; 6. asymmetry (uneven) of breasts and nipples; 7. nipple and breast sensation can be altered (numbness) or permanently lost; 8. loss of all or part of the nipple/areola; 9. unexpected malignancies (cancer) may be found requiring more extensive surgery; 10. alteration of appearance of breast tissue during mammograms; 11. interference with ability to breast feed in future; 12. contour/firmness of breast nipple and/or breasts may not be symmetrical and the breasts may sag. D. Augmentation Mammaplasty with Implant Use or Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy with Implant Use NOTE: When silicone gel implants are used, FDA consent is required. Risks specific to this product have, therefore, been excluded from this list. 1. capsule formation (scar formation around implant resulting in hard breasts and/or pain); 2. deflation of implant; 3. loss of sensation to the nipple and breast; 4. persistent pain in breast; 5. distortion of breast mound at rest and with activities; 6. palpable implant; 7. infection possibly requiring removal of implants; 8. leakage of implant contents.