ABSTRACT
Liposuction surgery is often associated with severe or fatal consequences, causing great repercussions in the medical field, and especially in the lay media. This should not cause the plastic surgeon to avoid the procedure, but rather should promote deeper knowledge of the basic pathophysiology. All means to accomplish the surgery in the safest possible way should be utilized, to minimize the risk of complications, especially the most severe risks. This article reviews the literature on liposuction-induced fat embolism, which is often associated with severe complications in the postoperative period, and even fatal outcomes. In addition, this study highlights several preventive measures that can be adopted to ensure greater safety of this procedure.
Keywords:
Plastic surgeon; Liposuction; Fat embolism; Pulmonary embolism.