The The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning after nearly 100 Americans died from cosmetic surgery procedures in the Dominican Republic.
Ninety-three US citizens died from complications from cosmetic procedures in this country between 2009 and 2022, according to the CDC.
Deaths have increased in recent years with more than half occurring after 2018.
The fatal cases peaked in 2020 when 17 people died.
All cases involved liposuction with the vast majority (92%) being buttock fat transfer — also known as a Brazilian butt lift.
Brazilian butt lifts have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years – they have been More than 40,000 buttock augmentations were performed in 2020 in the US alone — along with cosmetic surgery in general, as experts continue to warn of rising rates of body deformity, especially among women.
All but one of the patients who died from procedures in the Dominican Republic were women with an average age of 40 years.
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The majority of deaths were found to be caused by embolisms or blockages in the bloodstream, either from blood clots or fat buildup.
The death rate from Brazilian butt lifts – where surgeons use fat from other parts of the body to change the size and shape of the derriere – is about 1 in 15,000. according to a 2020 study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Many of the patients who died from operations in the Dominican Republic had risk factors, including obesity and having multiple operations at the same time.
As more people began seeking cosmetic surgery, medical tourism has soared with many booking their appointments outside the US, lured by the lower costs and shorter wait times.
The Dominican Republic has become a popular spot for medical tourism because of its proximity to the US and an existing US tourism industry. Doctors on the Caribbean island also advertise their services in the US
“Infections occur regularly after cosmetic procedures performed outside the United States,” the CDC warned.
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Experts warn that those interested in cosmetic surgery should discuss the risks with their regular doctor.
One of the people who died from complications from a Brazilian butt lift performed in the Dominican Republic was Rikers Island Corrections Chief Tandra Bowser-Williams.
But the Caribbean country is not the only place that has left patients with worrying and potentially fatal complications.
