93 Americans have died from cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic: CDC

Health

By Adriana Diaz

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning after nearly 100 Americans died from cosmetic surgery procedures in the Dominican Republic.

Ninety-three U.S. citizens died of complications from cosmetic surgery in that country between 2009 to 2022, according to the CDC.

The deaths have increased in recent years with more than half occurring after 2018.

Deadly cases peaked in 2020 when 17 people died.

The incidents all involved liposuction with the overwhelming majority (92%) being gluteal fat transfer — also known as Brazlian butt lifts.

Brazilian butt lifts have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years — there were more than 40,000 buttock augmentations performed in 2020 in the U.S. alone — along with cosmetic surgeries in general as experts continue to warn of rising rates of body dysmorphia, especially among women.

All but one of the patients who died from procedures in the Dominican Republic were women with the median age being 40 years old.

The majority of the deaths were found to be caused by embolisms, or blockages in the bloodstream, either from blood clots or fat buildup.

The death rate from Brazilian butt lifts — where surgeons use fat from other parts of the body to change the size and shape of the derrière — is about 1 in 15,000, according to a 2020 study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Many of the patients who died from procedures in the Dominican Republic had risk factors, including obesity and having multiple procedures performed at the same time.

As more people have begun requesting cosmetic surgery, medical tourism has boomed with many have booked their appointments outside the U.S., enticed by lower costs and shorter wait times.

The Dominican Republic has become a popular spot for medical tourism as it’s close to the U.S. and has an existing American tourism industry. Doctors on the Caribbean island also advertise their services in the U.S.

“Infections regularly occur after cosmetic surgery performed outside the United States,” the CDC warned.

The experts warn that those interested in cosmetic surgery should discuss the risks with their regular medical professional.

One of the people who died from complications from a Brazilian butt lift performed in the Dominican Republic was NYC Department of Correction Rikers Island captain Tandra Bowser-Williams.

But the Caribbean country isn’t the only spot that has left patients with concerning and potentially deadly complications.