Cosmetic surgeries are performed every day in Costa Rica and around the world, in fact, these type of surgeries attract many medical tourists to the country since it has earned a name for the high quality of its medical services at a much cheaper rate than in North America; however, every surgery has its risks, cosmetic surgeries are not the exception.

A study carried out by the University of Costa Rica, found that in the period from January 2006 through December 2017, a total of 13 patients died during a cosmetic surgery in the country, out of these, the majority was getting a liposuction, the second esthetic procedure that presented more deaths was buttock augmentation.

The study was carried out by Dr. Marcela Balmaceda under the supervision of Dr. Maikel Vargas.

The cause of death in the majority of the cases involve pulmonary embolism (9 cases), a blockage of an artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream; the second most common cause listed is septic shock, a severe infection that develops after the surgery.

Combining several procedures in one surgery usually increases the risks, according to the study some patients undergo as many as four procedures at the same time. “There are a series of factors that could have played a role in these 13 cases, the initial condition of the patient, or problems that could have arisen during or after the surgery”, commented Dr. Balmaceda.

“There are highly qualified professionals in Costa Rica, but it is necessary that those interested in undergoing these procedures do their research through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Costa Rica to confirm that the doctor that will be performing the surgery is qualified and authorized to do it. It is also important to inquire about the procedure and the materials that are going to be used to ensure that they are duly registered in the Ministry of Health”, explains the study.