South Florida is seen by many as a hub for plastic surgeries. Over the years, it has drawn in several medical tourists in search of top-notch procedures. This is partly due to its reputation as a hot destination as well as the illusion that countless skilled medical professionals reside here.
However, the excitement for these treatments can be short-lived, with detrimental effects or even patient deaths occurring as a result of medical malpractice and surgical errors. If you, or a loved one, are thinking of undergoing a cosmetic procedure, there are several important questions that should be considered before seeing a doctor.
What Are the Risks of Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgeries are designed to improve a person’s appearance. There are many types of plastic surgeries, and some of the most common are:
- Facelifts
- Brazilian butt lifts
- Breast augmentations
- Botox treatments
- Chemical peels
These treatments alter or manipulate an individual’s characteristics into, hopefully, a result that the patient is looking for.
While any form of surgery can be dangerous, a particular cosmetic procedure that has caused much harm in recent years is the Brazilian butt lift. You don’t need to look far to find cases of patient deaths or injuries associated with it.
In fact, GRYC’s Andy Yaffa was recently featured in a USA Today article about the rise of Miami medical malpractice cases resulting from these dangerous plastic surgeries. In some scenarios, patients were left with punctured or lacerated organs, and some died while on the operating table.
A lesser-known fact is that some practitioners are not even licensed nor trained to perform these procedures. A common misconception is that all surgeons and anesthesiologists involved in a plastic surgery procedure are qualified. However, this may not always be true.
In fact, some of the doctors involved in the cosmetic procedure may only be licensed to practice in other countries—or not even licensed at all. Without the proper credentials and qualifications by the state, patients can never be sure of the amount of training the physician has completed or received
While we encourage all patients to be their own advocates, we’re happy to see that the Florida legislature is finally doing something to help protect patients.
Recent Legislation to Prevent Medical Malpractice in the Plastic Surgery World
In order to make plastic surgery safer for patients, the Florida Senate has started reviewing a bill that aims to increase the transparency of plastic surgeons and their facilities. This bill will require all clinics to provide proof of financial responsibility for specific claims and costs and will mandate an application of licensure for the Agency for Healthcare Administration. In addition, offices performing the surgery will be subject to penalties or a registration revocation if surgeries are performed under certain improper circumstances.
If this legislation passes, patients will hopefully have safer plastic surgery options available in Florida. However, there are never any guarantees that surgery will be successfully performed. If you are considering undergoing cosmetic surgery, we strongly suggest that you take the time to research your procedure and physician in order to protect yourself. This truly can be a matter of life or death.
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