While the number of liposuction procedures performed for cosmetic purposes has been increasing recently, there is a growing need for caution as side effects and fatal accidents related to the surgery continue to be reported.

The National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) announced on July 16 that it has released the results of a comprehensive study analyzing the safety and complication rates of cosmetic liposuction.

This study was based on domestic and international academic literature, medical litigation rulings from courts since 2010, and in-depth surveys conducted with both patients and doctors.

According to the study, liposuction for cosmetic purposes is not a weight-loss treatment that reduces overall body weight. Instead, it is a body contouring procedure that removes fat from specific areas and shapes the body line by inserting a thin, metal pipe-like suction tube under the skin.

Therefore, undergoing the surgery does not remove visceral fat or lead to rapid weight loss.

The overall complication rate for liposuction was found to be between 2.62% and 6% based on systematic analysis of domestic and international literature.

Among these, minor complications such as bruising, swelling, uneven skin surfaces, and seromas—where fluid collects in the surgical area—occurred in approximately 5% of cases.

On the other hand, the incidence rate of fatal, serious complications—such as infections, bowel perforation (puncturing of internal organs), and embolism, where fat clots block blood vessels and cause shortness of breath—was reported to be around 1%.

An analysis of actual medical accident cases in Korea reveals the risks in more detail.

The research team analyzed rulings from 66 civil lawsuits and 23 criminal cases filed since 2010. The most common side effects identified were cosmetic dissatisfaction, such as asymmetry or uneven skin (23 cases).

However, among life-threatening major accidents, bowel perforation caused by the suction tube directly piercing an organ was the most frequent, occurring in 19 cases. It was found that 10 of the patients who suffered bowel perforation died.

Anesthesia-related accidents were also identified as a major cause of death.

A total of 12 cases of anesthesia complications were reported, and among them, 8 cases resulted in death due to a failure to provide proper resuscitation following respiratory arrest.

Regarding the causes of these major accidents, the courts pointed to a lack of proficiency on the part of the surgeon, leading to failure in controlling the suction tube, or negligence in the system for monitoring the patient's vital signs, such as breathing and blood pressure, during the surgery.

The survey conducted on patients and doctors revealed a significant information gap.

Individuals who had undergone the surgery responded that they did not receive sufficient explanations from medical institutions regarding recovery periods or side effects before the surgery, particularly concerning fatal risks such as anesthesia accidents or organ damage.

Most patients tended to decide on the surgery based on hospital advertisements or success stories on social media.

Experts advise that while liposuction is a relatively common procedure, one should not forget that it is an invasive medical act that inflicts direct wounds on the human body.

In particular, they emphasized that for a safe surgery, patients must accurately inform medical staff of their individual physical constitution and health status before deciding on the procedure. They also stressed the importance of choosing a medical institution equipped with anesthesia equipment and safety monitoring systems capable of responding to unexpected emergency situations.

(Photo courtesy of Seoul National University Hospital, Yonhap News)