What Happens If Something Goes Wrong After Cosmetic Surgery?
Every cosmetic surgery patient hopes for a smooth procedure and a straightforward recovery. Most achieve it. But complications do occur, and unsatisfactory outcomes are a reality of any surgical specialty.
As a patient, it is important to be informed before you ever schedule surgery. Find out who to call if something goes wrong, and learn both what normal recovery looks like and the signs of a problem.
Normal Recovery vs. Signs of a Complication
Discomfort, swelling, bruising, and temporary changes in sensation are expected parts of recovery that resolve on their own as the body heals. Signs of a complication are different, and may include:
- Fever, increasing redness, warmth, or discharge at the incision site, which may indicate infection
- Sudden or worsening pain not controlled by prescribed medication
- Significant swelling or asymmetry that develops after initial healing has begun
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, or leg pain and swelling, which may indicate a blood clot
- Bleeding that does not stop, or a rapidly expanding area of bruising
Contact your surgeon promptly if you experience any of these during recovery. When in doubt, err on the side of calling. Trusted cosmetic surgeons have clear after-hours protocols in place so that you know how to reach them during your recovery for any and all questions that arise.
If you cannot reach your surgeon and symptoms are concerning, go to the emergency room. Do not allow anyone, including clinic staff, to discourage you from seeking emergency care when your instincts tell you something is wrong.
Discomfort, swelling, and bruising are expected parts of recovery. Fever, worsening pain, or signs of infection are not.
If You Are Unhappy With Your Results
Dissatisfaction with cosmetic surgery results is a separate issue from medical complications and requires a different approach.
Before drawing conclusions about your outcome, give your body adequate time to heal. Swelling can persist for weeks to months depending on the procedure, and final results may not be visible for up to a year. What looks concerning at six weeks may look entirely different at six months. Your cosmetic surgeon can help you set realistic expectations before surgery and monitor progress in follow-up appointments. Before and after photos are helpful tools during the consultation phase; be sure to ask how long after surgery the follow-up photos were taken.
If, once healing is complete, you remain dissatisfied, the first step is an honest conversation with your surgeon. Experienced cosmetic surgeons should take your concerns seriously and evaluate whether a revision is appropriate. In some cases, surgeons may perform minor corrections at no additional surgeon’s fee.
If you are interested in an independent perspective, seek a second opinion. Look for a board certified cosmetic surgeon with documented experience performing revision procedures for your specific surgery. Revision surgery is more complex than a primary procedure, requiring the surgeon to work with altered anatomy and scar tissue, so experience matters even more the second time around.
- Related: Are Brazilian Butt Lifts Safe?
When the Problem Is the Provider
Not all poor outcomes are the result of unavoidable complications. Some stem from inadequate training, substandard facilities, or a failure to properly evaluate your candidacy before surgery.
If you believe your surgeon failed to meet the accepted standard of care, you have the option of filing a complaint with your state medical board. This is the appropriate channel for concerns about a provider, and the board has authority to investigate and take disciplinary action where warranted.
Complications can occur even in the hands of highly skilled surgeons. A poor outcome alone does not constitute malpractice. The relevant question is whether the surgeon’s training, judgment, and protocols met accepted standards, or fell below them.
Ask questions about your surgeon’s complication protocols before your procedure, rather than after.
How Surgeon Selection Affects Your Risk
The most consequential decision you make as a cosmetic surgery patient is your choice of surgeon.
ABCS diplomates complete a minimum 12-month cosmetic surgery fellowship, pass comprehensive written and oral examinations, and are required to operate exclusively in accredited surgical facilities with the staff, equipment, and emergency protocols necessary to manage complications if they arise.
In all 50 states, any licensed physician can legally perform cosmetic procedures regardless of their training background. Patients who choose providers based primarily on price, or without verifying credentials and facility accreditation, may face a higher risk of complications.
Choosing a board certified cosmetic surgeon does not eliminate risk, but it significantly reduces it and means that if something does go wrong, you are in the hands of someone trained to recognize and respond appropriately.
Questions to Ask Before Surgery
The time to understand your surgeon’s complication protocols is before your procedure, not after. During your consultation, consider asking:
- What are the most common complications associated with this procedure, and how would you manage them?
- What are your after-hours protocols if I have concerns during recovery?
- Where will my surgery be performed, and is the facility accredited?
- What is your policy on revision surgery if I am not satisfied with my result?
Your surgeon should answer these questions directly and thoroughly, without minimizing risk. Transparency about complications is one of the clearest signals that you are working with a surgeon who prioritizes your safety and long-term wellbeing above all else.
Find a Cosmetic Surgeon You Can Trust
Complications are an inherent part of surgery. What separates a safe cosmetic surgery experience from a dangerous one is the training of the surgeon, the standards of the facility, and the quality of follow-up care.
When you choose a board certified cosmetic surgeon, you are working with a provider who has the training to prevent complications, the facility resources to respond to them when they arise, and the professional accountability to support you through your recovery.
