Plastic surgery is not ‘just a tummy tuck’

• Wednesday November 21, 2007 | Posted in: Plastic Surgery Procedures

  Technorati Tags: plastic surgery risks, tummy tuck

  Plastic surgery is always risky. This is what many of us have learned upon the death of Kanye West’s mom, Donda. Her death is a reminder that going under the knife under anesthesia can be fatal.

  Donda West went through a tummy tuck and breast reduction surgery. Reports said that after going through the surgeries, Donda died of cosmetic surgery complications. This surprised many laypeople, but actually, plastic surgeons know that cosmetic surgery is just that – a major surgery.

  Dr. John Grossman, a cosmetic surgeon from Beverly Hills has this to say about the issue: “The problem is that we've listened to our own PR too much. We assume this form of medicine and surgery is different from other forms in which people can die. To think it is without risk is foolish for the patient.”

  A New York cosmetic surgeon Dr. Krimlin Long also added: "We have all had patients who have had complications. What is not a medical issue in everyday life can become an issue in surgery."

  The greatest threat for plastic surgery patients comes from the anesthesia, which is estimated to kill 1 in 10,000 to 100,000 people. Surgeons stress that even perfectly well patients die under anesthesia for unknown reasons. The autopsies or examinations often reveal that the cause of death can be a small undetected blood clot in the brain or erratic heartbeats not noticed on an electrocardiogram.

  Plastic surgery risks depend on the type of surgery the patient undergoes. A study showed that patients who go through abdominoplasties or tummy tucks have a higher risk of lung clots than other types of surgeries. Furthermore, patients lying on the operating tables for long periods may develop clots in the legs and travel to the heart or brain.

  Grossman reveals that the most common predicaments he encounters with surgery patients are untreated high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes and erratic heartbeats. These conditions are all associated with greater risks of heart attacks and strokes.

  "Some people are scared that their surgery will be canceled or delayed. That's a hell of a lot better than ending up in the ICU or ending up dead," Grossman says. "You should assume that not revealing everything is risking your life."

  It is then important for patients to discuss with their surgeons everything about their medical history and condition. This way, the operation can go on smoothly and the surgeon can minimize the risks and complications associated with the surgery.

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