Understanding the Risks of Surgery
Plastic surgery can be rewarding, but every operation carries risks. Being fully informed is an essential part of deciding whether surgery is right for you. This page gives a general overview — the specific risks of your procedure, and how they apply to you, are discussed in detail at your consultation.
General risks of any surgery
Risks that can apply to any operation include:
- Bleeding or a collection of blood (haematoma)
- Infection
- Poor or slow wound healing, and scarring
- Fluid collection (seroma)
- Numbness or altered sensation, which is often temporary
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism)
- A reaction to the anaesthetic
- Occasionally, the need for further surgery
Risks specific to your procedure
Each operation also carries its own particular risks — for example, asymmetry, changes in nipple or skin sensation, or a result that needs adjustment. These are explained in detail for your specific procedure before you decide to proceed.
Anaesthesia
Many procedures are performed under general anaesthesia, given by a specialist anaesthetist in an accredited hospital. Serious anaesthetic complications are uncommon, and a pre-operative assessment helps identify and manage any individual risks.
Things that increase your risk
Some factors meaningfully increase surgical risk and are worth addressing beforehand. Smoking is the most important — it significantly impairs healing and increases complications, so stopping before and after surgery is strongly advised. Being significantly overweight, poorly controlled medical conditions, and some medications can also increase risk.
How risk is minimised
Risk is reduced through specialist (FRACS) training, operating in accredited hospitals, careful planning, measures to prevent blood clots such as compression and early walking, and attentive post-operative care and follow-up. No surgeon can remove risk entirely, but a great deal can be done to keep it as low as possible.
Making an informed decision
You are encouraged to ask questions and, if it helps, to seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Good consent is not a signature — it is a genuine understanding of the benefits, the risks, and the alternatives, so that the decision is right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is plastic surgery safe?
Plastic surgery performed by a specialist surgeon in an accredited hospital is generally safe, but no operation is without risk. The aim is to understand and minimise those risks, and to make sure surgery is the right choice for you.
What is the single most important thing I can do to reduce my risk?
If you smoke, stopping before and after surgery is the most important step — smoking significantly impairs healing and increases complications. Being at a stable, healthy weight and managing any medical conditions also helps.
What should I do if I am worried after surgery?
Contact your surgeon or seek medical care promptly. Warning signs that need urgent attention include increasing pain, spreading redness, fever, or calf pain or breathlessness.
This article is general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks; you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Individual results vary. A consultation with Dr Livingston is required to determine your suitability for any procedure. Dr Ryan Livingston is an AHPRA-registered Specialist Plastic Surgeon (MED0001523680).