Plastic surgeons say they have addressed many of the causes of fatal flaws in liposuction procedures. They suspect that current death rates during or after liposuction may be half of what was found in the survey, which is reported in the Journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.
"We're on top of this problem," says Jack Bruner, a plastic surgeon in Sacramento and chairman of the society's liposuction task force. He says a more detailed study of mortality rates is under way, and results are due in two years.
Patient safety experts, however, say they are not surprised by the rate within the growing practice of office surgery.
"There are no rules for office-based surgery whatsoever," Pierce says.
Doctors must follow strict federal rules for blood and urine samples taken in offices, but there are no rules that apply to surgery, including liposuction procedures in the offices. The result, Pierce says, is that "surgery in doctors' offices is rampant with death."
Because elective office surgeries are such good business - payment upfront, no insurance hassles, and the doctor can set the fee - the practice has lured all kinds of doctors into the field. A doctor can attend a seminar at a hotel and learn how to perform liposuction within a few hours, Rohrich says.
This information is not to substitute for professional medical advice. You
should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or
disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please
consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have
regarding your condition.
