Cosmetic Procedures
Fighting the effects of aging—on the outside. Your guide to the risks of cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures
Trying to fight the effects of aging? Below is a basic guide to the risks involved in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. For more information on each procedure, see the resources below the charts.
Cosmetic Procedures: Surgical
Procedure/What is it? |
Risks |
Breast augmentation Breasts are enlarged by placing an implant behind each breast. |
- implants can rupture, leak, and deflate
- infection
- hardening of scar tissue around implant, causing breast firmness, pain, distorted shape, or implant movement
- bleeding
- pain
- nipples may get more or less sensitive
- numbness near incision
- blood collection around implant/incision
- calcium deposits around implant
- harder to find breast lumps
|
Breast lift Extra skin is removed from the breast to raise and reshape breast.
|
- Scarring
- skin loss
- infection
- loss of feeling in nipples or breast
- nipples put in the wrong place
- breasts not symmetrical
|
Breast reduction Fat, tissue, and skin is removed from breast. |
- if nipples and areola are detached, may lose sensation and decreased ability to breastfeed
- bleeding
- infection
- scarring
- harder to find breast lumps
- poor shape, size, or position of nipples or breasts
|
Eyelid surgery Extra fat, skin, and muscle in the upper and/or lower eyelid is removed to correct “droopy” eyelids. |
- blurred or double vision
- infection
- bleeding under the skin
- swelling
- dry eyes
- whiteheads
- can’t close eye completely
- pulling of lower lids
- blindness
|
Facelift Extra fat is removed, muscles are tightened, and skin is rewrapped around the face and neck to improve sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin. |
- Infection
- bleeding under skin
- scarring
- irregular earlobes
- nerve damage causing numbness or inability to move your face
- hair loss
- skin damage
|
Facial implant Implants are used to change the nose, jaws, cheeks, or chin. |
- infection
- feeling of tightness or scarring around implant
- shifting of implant
|
Forehead lift Extra skin and muscles that cause wrinkles are removed, eyebrows are lifted, and forehead skin is tightened.
|
- Infection
- Scarring
- bleeding under skin
- eye dryness or irritation
- impaired eyelid function
- loss of feeling in eyelid skin
- injury to facial nerve causing loss of motion or muscle weakness
|
Lip augmentation Material is injected or implanted into the lips to create fuller lips and reduce wrinkles around the mouth. |
- infection
- bleeding
- lip asymmetry
- lumping
- scarring
|
Liposuction Excess fat from a targeted area is removed with a vacuum to shape the body. |
- baggy skin
- skin may change color and fall off
- fluid retention
- shock
- infection
- burning
- fat clots in the lungs
- pain
- damage to organs if punctured
- numbness at the surgery site
- heart problems
- kidney problems
- disability
- death
|
Nose surgery Nose is reshaped by resculpting the bone and cartilage in the nose. |
- Infection
- bursting blood vessels
- red spots
- bleeding under the skin
- scarring
|
Tummy tuck Extra fat and skin in the abdomen is removed, and muscles are tightened to flatten tummy. |
- blood clots
- infection
- bleeding
- scarring
- fluid accumulation under the skin
|
Cosmetic Procedures: Non-Surgical
Procedure/What is it? |
Risks |
Botox injection Botox is injected into a facial muscle to paralyze it, so lines don’t form when a person frowns or squints. |
- face pain
- muscle weakness
- flu-like symptoms
- headaches
- loss of facial expression
- droopy eyelids
- asymmetric smile
- drooling
|
Collagen/fat injection Collagen from a cow or fat from your thigh or abdomen is injected into facial wrinkles, pits, or scars. |
- trigger an autoimmune disease
- contour problems
- hives
- rash
- swelling
- flu-like symptoms
|
Dermabrasion A small, spinning wheel or brush with a roughened surface removes the upper layers of facial skin. A new layer of skin appears during healing, giving the face a smoother appearance. Used to treat facial scars, heavy wrinkles, and problems like rosacea. |
- abnormal color changes
- whiteheads
- infection
- allergic reaction
- fever blisters
- cold sores
- thickened skin
|
Hyaluronic acid injection This gel is injected into your face to smooth lines, wrinkles, and scars on the skin. |
- swelling
- infection
- redness
- tenderness
- acne
- lumps
- tissue hardening
- risks unknown if used in combination with collagen
|
Laser hair removal Laser light is passed over the skin to remove hair. |
- hair regrowth
- scarring
- change in skin color
|
Laser skin resurfacing Laser light is used to remove wrinkles, lines, age spots, scars, moles, tattoos, and warts from the surface of the skin. |
- burns
- scarring
- change in skin color
- infection
- herpes flare-up (fever, facial pain, and flu-like symptoms)
|
Sclerotherapy A solution is injected into spider and varicose leg veins (small purple and red blood vessels) to remove the veins. |
- blood clots
- color changes in the skin
- vein removal may not be permanent
- scarring
|
Chemical Peel A solution is put onto the face (or parts of the face) that causes the skin to blister and peel off. It is replaced with new skin. |
- whiteheads
- Infection
- raised scarring
- allergic reaction
- cold sores
- color changes or blotchiness
- heart problems
|
Tooth Whiteners (peroxide agents) Depending on the product, either you or the dentist applies peroxide using strips; a mouth guard with gel; or a tray inside your mouth around your teeth |
if not customized for you by a dentist or dental hygienist, there may be unknown ingredients and unknown results |
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