General Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery

Usher, Usher, Usher, why didn’t you call me? Your wife was only four months post-partum and has suffered cardiac arrest after plastic surgery! Here’s a man, who lives in Atlanta, where I’m based, who takes the advice of a friend. Obviously, someone who knows nothing about plastic surgery, and recommends for his wife to go to Brazil to have two very common surgeries – liposuction and a tummy tuck- that are performed in abundance here in the United States. One of the first things I worn my clients about is to have surgery close to home in case there are complications. One of the biggest things I think Tameka, Usher’s wife made, is that she was only post partum four months. Any reputable plastic surgeon wouldn’t touch a post-partum patient until at least six months but most won’t for even a year, depending on what the surgery is.

I hate it when I read stories like this. Here’s a woman, who obviously jumped into something that she knew nothing about and has taken a huge risk. I hope Tameka will be back in the states soon, where she can heal and be with her family again.

A story like this is always very disturbing to me. Here you have a famous artist, that takes advice from a friend that obviously knows nothing about cosmetic surgery and recommends for his wife to go to Brazil, to have a very common procedures performed that very well could have been done here in the United States. Brazil has some excellent doctors, in fact, many of them are pioneers in the industry, but I can promise you one thing, NO reputable American doctor would have ever performed a cosmetic surgery procedure on a woman who was only post-partum four months. This is so unnecessary and so sad. I hope others can learn from this unfortunate situation.

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It was so sad to read about the 18 year old Florida cheerleader who died from complications of a breast augmentation, and my heart goes out to her family and friends. For me, when I hear of a cosmetic surgery ending in tragedy, it’s also a wake up call for patients, and I remind all my clients who are considering surgery, you’ve got to prepare for it…Any surgery is risky, but those risks can be minimized by taking certain crucial steps to safety-proof your surgery. In the case of the West Boca High School cheerleader, they suspect a rare condition triggered by anesthesia.That’s why I warn people, you’ve got to fully disclosing all medications you are taking, including over the counter drugs, herbs, vitamins or any drugs, legal or illegal—that could dangerously interact with anesthesia. We won’t know what happened until the autopsy, but if even if you are taking over the counter cold medicines, tell your surgeon—and the anesthesiologist. People don’t die from actual surgery, but from complications, and it’s as important to choose a top anesthesiologist as it is to choose your plastic surgeon. I’m not blaming, it could happen to any surgeon. It’s a tragedy for everyone,  including the board-certified cosmetic surgeon who performed the operation in a private surgery facility. Here’s what the Miami Herald wrote: “The West Boca High School cheerleader, 18, died Saturday from complications during surgery to correct asymmetrical breasts and inverted nipples, after being rushed to Delray Medical Center Friday morning.

According to her family’s attorney, a rare and silent condition called malignant hyperthermia could have killed the popular teen, who was looking forward to her senior prom and heading to the University of Florida.

The condition is triggered by anesthesia. Symptoms include rapid heart rate, muscles that become rigid and a fever of 110 degrees or higher. The condition is reversible if recognized and acted upon — usually within 30 minutes of onset — with Dantrolene, the only known antidote, said Dr. Henry Rosenberg, president of the Malignant Hyperthermia Association, whose organization fielded a call to its hot line about Kuleba’s case. “

While the autopsy results aren’t back, so we won’t know for sure exactly how she died until then. But I urge you to do your homework before surgery, and outline a number of things you can do to safety proof your operation. While I focus on liposuction in my new book, “The Little Book of Lipo” (Amazon, $19.95), it has pre-surgery tips that can apply to any cosmetic procedure. As a patient, you CAN maximize the chances for a safe, successful surgery.

New York, NY (December 14, 2007) — Responding to recent reports of the Fig LipoDissolve Centers going into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) offers the following advice to patients currently in treatment there or suffering from unwanted outcomes. Although neither Society recommends the use of injection lipolysis for fat reduction until appropriate research has documented the safety and efficacy of this non-FDA-approved treatment information is available for those patients needing help.

• If you are in the middle of lipolysis treatment and have concerns:
  Contact ASAPS

• If you are in pain, have a complication such as swelling or bleeding or need immediate attention; please contact your nearest hospital emergency room.

• If you are seeking body contouring or are considering your various options please remember the following:

  All procedures involving injecting pharmaceutical or other agents into the body are medical procedures and need to be conducted in an appropriate medical setting by a physician. A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon can help you weigh your options to achieve the optimal outcome you desire. The ASPS and ASAPS do not recommend that their patients undergo injection lipolysis treatments. All medical procedures have risks. If you decide a procedure is right for you, make sure you have done your homework, that the procedure has been fully explained by your healthcare provider and that you have thoroughly read and signed informed consent documents. “The proliferation of advertising of such treatments and the abrupt closing of Fig LipoDissolve Centers nationwide has raised many questions from both patients considering treatment, and those who have already been injected with the unproven medical treatments touted to reduce localized fat. Said Alan Gold, MD President – elect of the Anesthetic Society, “To date, injection lipolysis, LipoDissolve or any fat-melting injection has not gone through FDA sanctioned clinical trials or the research necessary to document the results claimed or clearly identify the potential underlying complications.” “Consumers should not ignore the proliferation of blogs and media that are reporting the ineffectiveness and the complications experienced by fat-melting injections,” said Richard A. D’Amico, ASPS President.” This mixture is not FDA approved nor has it been formally tested for predictable results or safety. That alone should steer consumers away from the marketing hype.”