Millions of Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Performed Each Year

Cosmetic enhancement procedures – both surgical and non-surgical – are on the rise. According to an annual report released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), 11.7 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in 2007, a 444% increase since 1997. Roughly 82% (9.9 million) of those were non-surgical procedures such as Botox, injectable fillers, and laser skin rejuvenation.  The other 1.8 million consisted of popular plastic surgery procedures including breast augmentation, liposuction, nose reshaping, and tummy tucks. 

Plastic Surgery Malpractice

Along with the growing number of cosmetic surgery procedures performed each year is an increase in the rate of serious injury, death and disfigurement caused by untrained, inexperienced or negligent doctors and nurses, and improperly supervised staff.

Cosmetic surgery is a very lucrative business. Many doctors use aggressive marketing to obtain clients and persuade them to undergo pricey procedures, sometimes without any regard to prior medical history or existing health conditions. In order to cash in on this booming market, many doctors and nurses who lack the necessary specialized training or certification are also performing cosmetic procedures in their offices, without access to the appropriate emergency medical care. Additionally, because most of these procedures are not covered by health insurance, this practice area is generally free from managed care’s restrictions and oversight.

Common Injuries Associated with Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

Common injuries resulting from plastic surgery include excessive scarring, nerve damage, disfigurement, life threatening infections, and the potentially deadly blood clotting conditions Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE). An earlier study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) estimated that over 18,000 cases of DVT occur annually in plastic surgery patients.  Clotting complications are most common in lipsuction and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedures, with PE accounting for 23% of all liposuction-related deaths.  The cause for the increased rate of DVT and PE among surgery patients has been linked to the surgeons’ failure to properly identify high risk patients prior to surgery.

Breast augmentation/reduction 

    - distortion

    - wrong size

    - infection/tissue death

    - nerve damage with sensory loss

    - scarring

    - assymetry or disfigurement

Face-lift and blepharoplasty 

    - excessive skin removal

    - nerve damage

    - dry eyes or inability to close the eyes

    - need for additional surgery

Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping)

     - breathing difficulties

     - asymetry

     - cost of revisional surgery

Liposuction

     - blood clots in the legs or lungs

     - internal bleeding

     - perforated organs

Chemical and Laser Skin Resurfacing

     - blistering/burns with scarring

     - infection

     - permanent discoloration