One Good Reason to Fire Your Cosmetic Surgery Provider

Rapper’s Tragedy Sheds New Light on the Risks of Cosmetic Surgery

Many would argue that shows like Extreme Makeover glamorize and over simplify cosmetic surgery, so much so that patients who choose to have a nip and tuck surgery don’t stop to consider the risks of the procedure.  Regardless of the word “cosmetic” in the term, any form of plastic surgery (including the most minimally invasive ones) are still serious business and should be treated as such.   

Many major life saving procedures are not recommended for people with specific health conditions, and cosmetic surgery is really no different.  This fact was brought to light dramatically last week when hip hop star Kanye West’s mother died a day after undergoing a tummy tuck and a breast reduction procedure.  The issue has raised new questions about the responsibilities of cosmetic surgeons with allegations surfacing that Donda West’s doctor knew of possible risks to her health and decided to go ahead with the procedure anyway.  

There are also other allegations that he never went to Harvard like he claimed, drugged and raped a patient, and received several drunken driving citations.  And this is a doctor who was regarded as some kind of industry expert, with his own plastic surgery show on the Discovery Channel, and numerous appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show.  Makes you worry about the kind of doctors who are passing off for “experts” in the US. 

Lessons for the Medical Tourism Industry

The problem with medical tourism is that many countries with barely established health care systems have begun to ride piggyback on the failures of the American healthcare system, ignoring the fact that the whole concept of medical tourism revolves around quality care that’s on par with what would be available at a comparable Western institution.   

Stories of botched surgeries are not uncommon, and anyone who chooses to fly abroad would do well to research not only the medical facilities, but also the doctor him or herself.  Destinations with well established medical tourism facilities like India and Singapore are a safer bet than newer entrants that don’t have as much to lose by poorer quality control.  With more countries offering an entire menu of low cost treatments from body tucks to spider veins surgery, patients have been more than willing to go under the scalpel abroad.  The lower cost by itself isn’t reason enough to choose a doctor or a hospital for cosmetic surgery.  A procedure like spider veins surgery for instance would cost just between $90 and $360 in India, and while there aren’t too many health complications associated with this procedure, it would still need to be performed by a qualified cosmetic surgeon, and not a technician who just happens to be handy with the lasers. 

So what’s the number one lesson that’s come out of Kanye’s tragedy? That regardless of whether you’re in Beverly Hills or Bangkok, if your cosmetic surgeon is more than willing to ignore your health risks and medical history to pave the way for a surgery, don’t walk. Run.  Even if he’s been featured on Oprah.