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VAN NUYS, Calif. — In a world obsessed with perfection, cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular. But a new study finds that the pursuit of beauty can come at a heavy price – and not just financially. The research, which analyzed and ranked the riskiest cosmetic procedures, revealed alarming complication rates that can make even the most determined patients think twice about going under the knife.
Eye Color Change Surgery: A Dangerous Vision of Beauty
At the top of the list of dangerous processes is eye color change surgerywith an astonishing complication rate of 92.30%. This controversial procedure, which has not yet been approved by the FDA, carries significant risks, including vision loss, glaucoma, and corneal damage. With recovery times ranging from one to eight weeks and an average cost of $12,000, study researchers from Overnight Glasses they say patients are literally playing with their vision.
Thigh Lift and Brazilian Butt Lift: Beauty at what cost?
They come second on the risk scale thigh liftswith a complication rate of 78%. This procedure, which aims to sculpt the legs, carries risks of blood clots, infection and altered skin sensation. THE Brazilian Butt Liftranked third with a complication rate of 37.94%, it has gained a reputation not only for its popularity but also for its high risk of fat embolism and other serious complications.
Body Transformations: A Heavy Toll on Health
Body lifting operations claim fourth place with a complication rate of 42%, while breast reduction surgery ranks sixth with 38%. Interestingly, the study found that breast reduction surgeries have twice the rate of complications breast augmentation procedureswhich are ranked eighth with a complication rate of 14.40%.
Quick fixes aren’t always safe
Injectable fillersoften considered a “lunchtime procedure”, it surprisingly ranks fifth due to its high complication rate of 64.61%. While the recovery time is short – just one to two days – the frequency of complications such as allergic reactions and asymmetry is alarming.
The bottom line
Rounding out the top 10 are buttock implants (21.60% complication rate), hand raises (21.00%), and breast lifts (10.40%). Each of these procedures carries its own set of risks, from implant displacement to nerve damage and changes in sensation.
This comprehensive study looked at factors such as complication rates, recovery times, and the severity of potential issues to create an overall risk index. The findings serve as a stark reminder that cosmetic procedures, while often portrayed as routine, carry significant risks that patients should consider carefully before going under the knife.
The 10 most dangerous cosmetic procedures
| Cosmetic Surgery | Complication rate | Average Price | Composite score |
| Eye color change surgery (aesthetic iris implantation, laser pigment removal, keratopigmentation) | 92.30% | $12,000.00 | 0.8313 |
| Thigh lift | 78.00% | $6,378.00 | 0.6361 |
| Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) | 37.94% | $11,500.00 | 0.5759 |
| Body lifting | 42.00% | $15,000.00 | 0.5292 |
| Injectable Fillers | 64.61% | $775.00 | 0.5039 |
| Breast Reduction | 38.00% | $8,200.00 | 0.4102 |
| Buttock implants | 21.60% | $7,964.00 | 0.3513 |
| Breast augmentation | 14.40% | $10,000.00 | 0.298 |
| Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) | 21.00% | $6,192.00 | 0.2973 |
| Breast lift (mastopexy) | 10.40% | $8,849.00 | 0.2812 |
Methodology
Data collection: Researchers with Overnight Glasses gathered data on complication rates, types of complications, recovery times, and mortality rates from reliable medical studies and clinical data.
Normalization: The team normalized each factor to a 0-1 scale to ensure comparability.
Weight Assignment: The researchers assigned different weights to each factor based on its effect on overall risk, with higher weights on complication rates and complication severity.
Composite score calculation: They calculated a composite score by summing the weighted scores for each procedure.
Popularity data: The researchers included the popularity of each procedure, measured by search volume, to provide additional information about their risk profile.
Cost data: The Overnight Glasses team looked at the average cost of each procedure to provide a comprehensive understanding of their risk and financial impact.
Classification: They ranked cosmetic procedures from most to least risky based on composite scores.
