Six months ago I had liposuction to my thighs. One side developed severe problems diagnosed as an anterior compartment syndrome. I ended up with a huge, swollen thigh and had another two surgeries (one to release the pressure and another to sew the wound up). After getting the bill for the second and third operations, I’m wondering if it wouldn’t have worked to just use ice and elevation to get the swelling down. Were the doctors just knife-happy?

Chances are your surgeon’s skill saved your leg and your life. Anterior compartment syndrome (ACS) is a serious condition. Left untreated you can end up with damaged muscles that never recover.

With all the pressure from the build-up of fluid, the blood supply to the muscles can get cut off. Infection and necrosis can mean amputation for some people. If the infection spreads through your blood supply, death is possible.