Why does cosmetic surgery go wrong

While surgeons in the United States perform millions of plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures every year, the mortality rate associated with these procedures is only about two deaths for every , procedures, according to a study. But while deadly complications from cosmetic surgeries are uncommon, as with non-cosmetic surgeries, surgeons are quick to point out that there are always risks involved -- risks that anyone going under the knife should be aware of.

These risks do tend to be "somewhat lower" notes Dr. Garry Brody, professor emeritus at the division of plastic surgery at the Keck School of Medicine, "because it's healthy people electing to have surgery," and generally not those with pre-existing medical concerns. But the risk can go up dramatically if the facilities or the surgeon is not up to snuff.

The complications Hendry experienced are rare and a result of malpractice on the part of her surgeon, Dr. Gustav Aniansson -- who she successfully sued. Hendry became an advocate for better cosmetic surgery safety in the years before her death. In West's case, her surgeon, Dr. Jan Adams, told the press numerous times that he was not responsible for West's death.

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Cosmetic surgery, like any type of surgery, is not without risks. Plastic surgery procedures can result in complications ranging from an unattractive or unnatural final result to scarring or even death. Many people mistakenly assume that elective optional procedures, such as cosmetic surgery, aren't as serious as other types of surgery.

But all surgeries, even simple dental procedures, present the possibility of serious complications. In addition to the general risks of surgery , there's always the possibility of issues arising due to anesthesia. In some ways, cosmetic surgery can be more challenging than more standard surgeries if the patient doesn't tolerate surgery well. Many of these procedures are done in surgery centers or an operating suite in the physician's office.

For most patients, this isn't a serious concern. For the patient who becomes critically ill during surgery, being in a facility with an ICU and extensive resources for the very sick patient can make a tremendous difference in the outcome. Poor Cosmetic Outcome: This may be the greatest fear of a plastic surgery patient: a result that not only fails to improve appearance but actually makes one's appearance worse than before the surgery.

Scarring: One of the greatest risks to achieving an attractive outcome, scarring is not always predictable, but can be controlled in most cases.

Patients can decrease the risk of scarring by not smoking, eating well after surgery and following the surgeon's directions during recovery.

Nerve Damage or Numbness: In some cases, nerves may be damaged or severed during any surgical procedure. Can colloidal silver help treat acne? Here's what to know before giving this remedy a try. Not sure how to tell these two cosmetic procedures apart? We've got all the details.

Interested in adding art to your teeth? If you're considering getting a tattoo to cover varicose or spider veins, read this first for details on complications, aftercare, and more. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Catherine Hannan, M. Blood loss. Nerve damage. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Organ damage. General appearance dissatisfaction. Complications of anesthesia. The takeaway. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.

Although the number of cosmetic surgeries performed in the UK has decreased over the years, reaching a peak of over 51 thousand procedures in , it still stands at over 28 thousand in Compare that to the more than 11 million largely unregulated non-surgical procedures performed in , and it is clear that there is a pervasive acceptance of non-surgical procedures. Whilst all cosmetic surgeries and non-surgical procedures involve risks, the person carrying out the treatment still owes you a Duty of Care.

If your procedure has gone wrong, or you are unhappy with the result of your treatment, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.