Fatalities have spiked in the past five years from cosmetic surgery. The deaths were mainly due to fat or venous thromboembolism, a blood clot that forms in the veins, according to Fox News.

     Most of the risk factors include obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, and multiple surgeries performed at once. The average age of the patients was 40 at the time of their death, continues the source. 

     According to Fox News, of the deaths that occurred between 2019 and 2020, liposuction which removes excess fat from specific parts of the body (according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons), was performed on all of those patients.

     Josef Hadeed, chair of the Patient Safety Committee for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) states that “too often, patients will travel to other countries as the procedures are cheaper there.” 

     According to Fox News, doctors warn many of the dangers of cheaper international surgeries because “sometimes you get what you pay for.” Hadeed also states that “just because something is cheaper, doesn’t mean it is better for you.”

     The Center for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a report about the dangers regarding destination procedures. It was found that “all surgeries carry a risk, but there are excessive deaths outlined in the report, most of which were presumably avoidable,” according to Hadeed. 

     The CDC has reported that 29 U.S. citizens have died after having cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic between 2009 and 2018. 

     Hadeed adds that all surgeries carry some kind of risk however, “the Brazilian Butt Lift has been associated with the highest risk of death in plastic surgery, which is corroborated by the report.”

     Jonathan Kaplan, a board-certified plastic surgeon who practices at Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery, adds that there are “risks of going to a foreign country that has no quality assurance or safety protocols as required by law in the U.S.” 

     Hadeed has suggested to Fox News that before plastic surgery, it is critical to find a surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Also, that it is “better” to look at plastic surgeons within the U.S.