In a startling revelation, U.S. health officials have reported that 93 Americans have lost their lives after undergoing cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic since 2009. The majority of these tragic deaths were associated with a procedure known as a Brazilian butt lift, raising serious concerns about the safety of cosmetic surgeries in this Caribbean nation.
Brazilian butt lifts have been gaining popularity worldwide, but their allure has come with dire consequences, not only in the Dominican Republic but also in other countries, including the United States. According to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it remains unclear how prevalent these deaths are or whether they are more common in the Dominican Republic compared to other destinations.
The CDC’s report highlights essential precautions that medical tourists should take into consideration before embarking on their cosmetic surgery journey. It underscores the importance of researching the qualifications of the surgeon performing the procedure and ensuring that the facility is equipped to provide adequate post-operative care, which is crucial for patient safety.
A Brazilian butt lift is a cosmetic procedure that involves the injection of fat to reshape or resize the buttocks. However, the CDC report, which examined approximately two dozen of the deaths, revealed that most fatalities were attributed to fat or blood clots entering the lungs or bloodstream. This dangerous outcome underscores the risks associated with the procedure.
It is important to note that complications from cosmetic surgeries are not exclusive to the Dominican Republic. Similar reports of deaths following cosmetic procedures have surfaced in the United States, with Florida being a hotspot for such incidents. In a separate CDC report, 15 cases of bacterial infections were documented in women who underwent cosmetic surgery at a Florida facility in 2022, further highlighting the risks involved in these procedures.
Additionally, sporadic reports of cosmetic surgery-related incidents have arisen in Mexico, including a concerning incident in which U.S. patients contracted fungal meningitis after undergoing cosmetic procedures in Matamoros, a border city. This led to the closure of two clinics and the unfortunate loss of a dozen lives.
The Dominican Republic, known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture, has also attracted medical tourists seeking affordable cosmetic surgeries. Some doctors from the Dominican Republic even advertise their services in the United States, offering breast implants, liposuction, and various other operations at lower prices. This increased influx of medical tourists from the U.S. prompted the U.S. Embassy to collaborate with the CDC and the Dominican Republic Ministry of Health to investigate the growing number of deaths.
The joint investigation identified a total of 93 cosmetic surgery-related deaths of U.S. citizens in the Dominican Republic between 2009 and 2022, averaging around seven fatalities per year. Alarmingly, almost all of these victims were women. Notably, over half of these deaths occurred since 2019, coinciding with the surge in popularity of Brazilian butt lifts. In 2022, nearly 29,000 such procedures were performed in the United States, as reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The Brazilian butt lift procedure involves extracting fat from areas like the hips, lower back, or thighs and injecting it into the buttocks to achieve the desired shape or size. However, it carries inherent risks, such as fat inadvertently entering the bloodstream, causing blockages in crucial arteries or veins.
In 11 out of 20 cases examined through autopsy records, this fat migration was identified as the primary cause of death, as confirmed by Dr. Matthew Hudson, the study’s first author, who is now affiliated with the State University of New York at Buffalo.
These concerning findings emphasize the importance of conducting thorough research and considering the potential risks before opting for cosmetic surgery abroad. While cosmetic procedures can enhance one’s appearance, they should never come at the expense of health and safety, regardless of the destination.