According to the Chicago Tribune, the holidays are one of the most popular times for procedures like Brazilian butt lifts and tummy tucks, which unfortunately means the potential for cosmetic surgery malpractice is also high this time of year. That is particularly true in South Florida, where the state’s relaxed medical regulations have made tourist hotspots like Miami and Fort Lauderdale top destinations for patients to have these operations.
The significant amount of unlicensed and uninsured doctors performing plastic surgeries in Florida poses a massive risk for patients, with USA Today reporting that people have been critically injured or even killed in recent years. Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen’s Andy Yaffa has represented some of those victims.
Any surgery should be taken seriously, but in the Sunshine State, it’s more important than ever to know about the dangers of cosmetic procedures and minimize the harm you may face before going under the knife this holiday season.
The Dangers of Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic surgeries are voluntary operations, such as facelifts, breast augmentations, and rhinoplasties that change an individual’s physical appearance. The potential dangers they pose vary, with particularly invasive surgeries like Brazilian butt lifts and tummy tucks known to puncture or lacerate organs if performed improperly.
Reports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale cosmetic surgery malpractice have become increasingly common as the clinics that offer these operations continue to rise. According to a recent USA Today investigation, 13 women lost their lives and nearly a dozen more were hospitalized after receiving such surgeries between 2013 and 2018 at a handful of South Florida facilities.
Know Your Doctor and Clinic
It’s true that cosmetic surgery malpractice can result from operations by legitimate doctors; however, a significant number of the victims GRYC has represented were harmed by unlicensed personnel at unregulated clinics.
Many believe that a surgeon or anesthesiologist must be qualified to perform plastic surgery. The reality is that untrained and uninsured practitioners have been found conducting high-risk operations throughout Florida and the country, resulting in tragic incidents most board-certified doctors would not allow to happen.
Before undergoing cosmetic surgery, it’s crucial to learn about the medical team that will be caring for you. The existence of a facility with medical equipment and staff does not mean that center is reputable.
The following questions are crucial to minimizing the risks you or a loved one may face and can be read more about here:
- Is the clinic an authorized medical facility?
- Do the doctors and anesthesiologists have a license?
- Will your post-surgical needs be handled by a doctor who is similarly qualified?
- Do the physicians in the clinic have hospital privileges?
- Does the clinic have a history of malpractice, negligence, or fatalities?
You can, and should, check the legitimacy of any facility or person offering you a medical procedure, and using resources like the Florida Department of Health website to answer these questions can help you achieve that.
We encourage all patients to be their own advocates, but the predatory practices of untrustworthy plastic surgeons and the dangerous procedures they unethically advertise can be incredibly manipulative. On top of that, it can never be guaranteed that surgery will be performed successfully – even by a qualified doctor.
If you are one of the many people who have been harmed by a Brazilian butt lift, tummy tuck, liposuction, or a similar operation, Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen’s Miami and Fort Lauderdale cosmetic surgery malpractice attorneys can help.
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