Many people choose to get plastic surgery to make themselves look and feel good. But there are times when these seemingly innocent intentions result in the most unfortunate of tragedies – Miami plastic surgery death.
According to plastic surgery death statistics reported by the Miami Herald, there were only 46 office surgery deaths in Florida from 2000 to 2010. It certainly isn’t an alarming number, but it should be enough to make you cautious. Finding the right surgeon can make a huge difference, as a board-certified and reputable surgeon can prevent many complications from occurring.
Want examples? Here are five Miami plastic surgery deaths caused by negligent surgeons:
Heather Meadows
One of the most publicized cases of plastic surgery deaths within the past year was that of Heather Meadows, a 29-year-old mom who died due to complications related to her liposuction and Brazilian Butt Lift.
According to a report from the medical examiner’s office, fat particles clogged the arteries of Meadows’ lungs and heart, causing organ failure and subsequent death. These fat particles entered her bloodstream through a vein during a fat transfer procedure.
Fat transfer is an important step in Brazilian Butt Lift. This is when fat harvested from other fat-rich areas of the body are reinjected into the buttocks to define its contour and provide a natural lift.
While fat embolism is a known complication of Brazilian Butt Lift, it occurs rarely and can be prevented had fat transfer been performed by the plastic surgeon in a correct way.
Though the plastic surgery center where Meadows had her procedure was licensed and did not have active complaints, there were already red flags she could have foreseen.
For one, the clinic offers too good to be true prices – almost thousands of dollars less than other clinics within the area. Plus, it has also been linked to the death of a 51-year-old woman who underwent buttocks augmentation surgery.
Here are other red flags to watch out for when looking for a plastic surgeon.
Maria Christian
Although she was in good health at the time of her tummy tuck surgery, Maria Christian suffered a heart attack on the operating table and died within hours.
The 32-year-old lady had two previous cosmetic surgeries in the same clinic, which did not cause any problems. But during her third time to undergo plastic surgery, a new surgeon operated on her – someone whom she wasn’t familiar with. Her sister even implied that Christian must have been pressured into having the operation with a new doctor.
“They were trying to tell her, ‘Just do it with her, she’s really good, she’s really good, and you’re going to be fine,” her sister said in an interview with NBC Miami.
The clinic defended itself by saying that Christian’s surgical procedure has inherent risks and complications, and the cardiac arrest was, unfortunately, one of those risks.
The moral lesson here? Choose a plastic surgeon you trust. There’s no harm in asking them these 10 essential questions, either.
Shatarka Nuby
31-year-old Shatarka Nuby had the misfortune of meeting a faux plastic surgeon who pumped her body with toxic substances during a buttocks augmentation surgery.
Known as “Dutchess,” the fake plastic surgeon went to Nuby’s house to do the surgery for less than a thousand dollars. She injected an unknown substance to the patient’s hips, thighs, buttocks, and breasts.
According to Nuby’s friends, her injection site became hard and hot after a few days, and her skin turned black. Investigations showed that super glue and cotton balls sealed the injection sites. According to the report, she suffered from massive systemic silicone migration.
The worst part is, Nuby’s not the only one conned by this fake surgeon. Other victims also underwent the same procedures, developing complications due to the injection of substances like glue, mineral oil, cement, and even bathroom caulk.
The Dutchess is now behind bars after facing charges of manslaughter. But there is no shortage of deceptive people who offer cheap plastic surgery even if they have no idea how to do it, so here are the reasons why you should avoid plastic surgery at rock bottom prices.
Maribel Cardona
Another victim of a Brazilian Butt Lift gone wrong is Maribel Cardona, a mother of five who died due to the surgery’s complications. Just like Meadows, her death was caused by fat emboli that traveled to the arteries in the lungs and clogged them.
According to Cardona’s son, his mother deposited $4,000 to the clinic after hearing great reviews from a friend. She had a change of heart after he explained the risks of the surgery to her, but the clinic would not provide a refund, so she still went through with the surgery. She started having difficulty of breathing in the recovery room, so she was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died.
Aside from the low price of surgery, one of the alarming things about Cardona’s surgery was that her doctor was only a licensed dermatologist. In fact, he has no certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Under Florida law, any licensed doctor can perform plastic surgery, so this practice is not illegal.
Still, this tragedy could have been avoided if she chose a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Betty Pino
Miami radio personality Betty Pino was also a victim of plastic surgery gone wrong, albeit in a rather unlikely manner.
After having silicone injected into her buttocks four years ago, she went back to her doctors to ask them to remove them as the implants had recently begun to bother her. Though the operation was successful, she developed sepsis a month later, thus leading to her death.
Though Pino’s surgeon was not flagged for negligence, autopsy findings suggested that the infected operation wounds caused the patient’s death. Bacterial infection is one of the risks of plastic surgery, and many other patients have suffered from such complications.
Death from plastic surgery will always be a looming risk for every cosmetic procedure. But this fatal risk can be drastically minimized if you do your homework and research everything about your procedure, including the surgeon who will operate on you.
Remember, your choice of a plastic surgeon can spell the difference between life and death.
Always choose reputable and board-certified plastic surgeons like Dr. Nick Masri and Dr. Mark Broudo of Face + Body Cosmetic Surgery to minimize your chances of a Miami plastic surgery death. Schedule a free consultation with them now.
References:
http://www.healthline.com/health-news/death-raises-concerns-about-risks-of-plastic-surgery
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/05/17/woman-died-from-fat-clots-after-undergoing-cosmetic-procedure/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fake-doctor-charged-in-buttocks-injection-death/
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/mother-of-five-dies-after-brazilian-butt-lift-goes-wrong-6526473
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/14/betty-pino-autopsy_n_4096748.html
