Suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) is a commonly performed cosmetic surgery in the United States and has been steadily increasing in popularity over the past few years. As more of these surgeries are performed, several rare but life-threatening complications are being recognized, including necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs). NSTIs require rapid surgical intervention but can be challenging to diagnose, as skin manifestations may be difficult to differentiate from normal post-SAL changes. We present a case of a 44-year-old female who presented with signs of septic shock after SAL of her abdomen and back. She was ultimately found to have an NSTI of her abdominal wall, likely due to perforated viscus that occurred as a complication of her procedure. This case demonstrates the significance of recognizing NSTIs as a potential complication of SAL in ill-appearing patients with non-specific symptoms and septic shock.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.