Under The Knife: Between Beauty And Death!

A cosmetic surgeon has likened his profession to flying in an aircraft. He says that, when boar­ ding a plane, one can never be entirely certain of reaching the final destination. The same, he argues, applies to cos­ metic surgery. It can be beautiful and life-changing, yet it remains “very dan­ gerous”. Even when every rule is strictly observed, the risks are significant, and a patient can all too easily “end up in the grave”. The level of risk varies ac­ cording to the procedure, the patient’s general health, the skill of the surgeon, and the standards of the facility where the operation takes place. Regardless of these factors, experts note that all procedures carry an inherent baseline risk. The surgeon is altering tissue during the operation, and the patient is kept under anaesthesia for a pro­ longed period. One of the principal risks associated with cosmetic surgery is thromboem­ bolic disease, which commonly occurs during prolonged procedures. As some operations can last eight hours or more, patients remain under anaes­ thesia for an extended period. Experts warn that, without regular movement and appropriate preventative measures, blood clots can form in the legs. If dis­ lodged, these clots may travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embo­ lism-a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries or to the heart, resulting in a myocardial infarction. Fat embolism is another serious danger in cosmetic surgery. If fat is inadvertently injected into a blood vessel during a BBL pro­ cedure, it can enter the circulation and becomes fatal. Hidden bleeding following liposuction can also be fatal. Medically, liposuction is performed using a cannula. It is a metal tube that is moved in and out of the patient’s body by a machine. During this process, tiny tears can occur in blood vessels that are not vi­ sible to the eye. This is a risk that can affect any surgery, and it is acknow­ ledged that even the most experienced surgeons in the world may inadver­ tently nick a vessel. If a patient is dis­ charged home or to a hotel to recover, as is often ...