Unregulated Plastic Surgery Abroad Claims Yet More American Lives
Numerous Americans are traveling abroad to save money on medical treatments, a trend dubbed “medical tourism.” Many of these Americans go to other countries for less expensive plastic surgery. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued warnings about seeking medical care in other countries due to potential risks such as substandard care, exposure to infectious disease and highly drug-resistant bacteria, and an increased risk of blood clots due to flying following surgery.
In spite of these very clear warnings by the CDC, many Americans have recently suffered disfigurement -and tragically even death – due to substandard cosmetic surgical treatments performed in foreign countries.
Recent Plastic Surgery Deaths in Other Countries
Recently, a Mississippi lady died after undergoing gastric bypass weight loss surgery in Tijuana, Mexico. Markita McIntyre, 34, died after surgery for a sleeve gastrectomy. She and a friend intended to save money by having this weight reduction procedure done in Mexico. One withdrew from the plan, while Ms. McIntyre, a mother of three, died on the operating table.
According to a recent CNN article, the CDC reported in that in 2019 alone 11other individuals who had surgery in Tijuana returned to the United States with uncommon antibiotic-resistant illnesses.
In June, a man from New York and a female high school teacher from Alabama died after cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic.
Manuel Jose Nunez, 28, of New York, died after liposuction at Santo Domingo’s Caribbean Plastic Surgery Clinic. Manuel Jose Nunez was operated on by gynecologist Oscar Polanco at the Caribbean Plastic Surgery Clinic in Santo Domingo, who has been accused of being responsible for at least three more patient fatalities.
Alicia Williams, 45, a teacher from Birmingham, Alabama, also died as a result of complications after a series of cosmetic surgery procedures in the Dominican Republic. After undergoing liposuction, a tummy tuck, and a Brazilian butt lift in the DR, she had several medical problems – including blood clots, and loss of a significant amount of blood – and she tragically passed away.
Leigh Aiple, 31, spent more than $35,000 for a plastic surgery package in Malaysia but died less than 24 hours after returning home. His death has prompted warnings to others contemplating traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery.
CDC Warning Against “Medical Tourism” Plastic Surgery Abroad
The CDC cautions that the majority of health care institutions in the Dominican Republic, and many other countries, that cater to medical tourists do not meet the criteria required by international accrediting organizations.
They emphasize that American travelers going abroad seeking medical tourism surgeries have suffered illnesses, life-threatening infections, medical negligence, and even death.
Why Medical Tourism is so Dangerous
While one may see why people might choose medical tourism, due to the cost savings. But the dangers of unaccredited plastic surgery abroad clearly outweigh any financial advantages.
Some concerns of medical tourism plastic surgery are:
#1. Sanitization: In the United States, sterilization protocols and testing are conducted. There is no way to know how sanitary and well-maintained the instruments are in another country.
If a tool is not adequately sterilized, it may wind up costing the patients a lot more money in the long term due to infection, prolonged hospitalization, and botched aesthetic effects… as well as death.
#2. Training: Similarly, a patient does not know how a physician has been educated in another country, as opposed to how surgeons are trained in the United States.
In the United States, people may check to see whether a physician is registered, licensed, and trained to practice in a certain specialty. When searching the internet for foreign providers, you do not have the same degree of security.
In the United States, patients can ascertain their surgeon’s surgical skill level if they seek out an American Board of Plastic Surgery board certified plastic surgeon, like Dr. Ali in Birmingham, MI. Additionally, in the US one can seek out surgeons (again like Dr. Ali) who are members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which is comprised entirely of specialized plastic surgeons who continue their medical training and who focus exclusively on cosmetic surgery.
#3. Blood Supply: Medical tourism patients should also take into account the safety of the blood supply in hospitals located abroad. Numerous surgical procedures require blood transfusions – and if a patient has complications a transfusion is even more likely.
The blood supply in the US is highly regulated and exhaustively tested. But the blood supplies they are utilizing in another country may be safe or may not, and the fact is that there is no way to know for certain. Contaminated blood can lead to infection, diseases (such as HIV), and even death.
Don’t Risk Your Life on Plastic Surgery Abroad
Currently, medical tourism is unregulated, with bundle packages intended to allow patients to have the greatest number of operations possible in the quickest amount of time, regardless of any risk. And, despite what foreign physicians and clinics may promote, International standards simply do not exist.
Having plastic surgery performed abroad carries a considerable risk, since there is no assurance of the caliber or safety of the treatment you will get.
Board-certified Birmingham, MI plastic surgeon Dr. Ali and our caring staff urge you not to consider going abroad for plastic surgery – even if it is cheaper. In the end, one “gets what one pays for” – and what you may be paying for with medical tourism is disfigurement or death.
Plastic Surgery | Birmingham, MI
Birmingham area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has helped thousands of women and men love their appearance and improve their confidence and quality of life with cosmetic surgery – safely and without complications.
Schedule a consultation and take the first step toward getting the plastic surgery you have always wanted – and look and feel like the best version of “you” that you can be! And if cost is an issue we can help you with easy financing options so that cost concerns do not steer you in a dangerous direction abroad!
Plastic Surgery Consultation | Birmingham, MI: 248-335-7200
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/in Cosmetic Surgery /by adminUnregulated Plastic Surgery Abroad Claims Yet More American Lives
Numerous Americans are traveling abroad to save money on medical treatments, a trend dubbed “medical tourism.” Many of these Americans go to other countries for less expensive plastic surgery. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued warnings about seeking medical care in other countries due to potential risks such as substandard care, exposure to infectious disease and highly drug-resistant bacteria, and an increased risk of blood clots due to flying following surgery.
In spite of these very clear warnings by the CDC, many Americans have recently suffered disfigurement -and tragically even death – due to substandard cosmetic surgical treatments performed in foreign countries.
Recent Plastic Surgery Deaths in Other Countries
Recently, a Mississippi lady died after undergoing gastric bypass weight loss surgery in Tijuana, Mexico. Markita McIntyre, 34, died after surgery for a sleeve gastrectomy. She and a friend intended to save money by having this weight reduction procedure done in Mexico. One withdrew from the plan, while Ms. McIntyre, a mother of three, died on the operating table.
According to a recent CNN article, the CDC reported in that in 2019 alone 11other individuals who had surgery in Tijuana returned to the United States with uncommon antibiotic-resistant illnesses.
In June, a man from New York and a female high school teacher from Alabama died after cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic.
Manuel Jose Nunez, 28, of New York, died after liposuction at Santo Domingo’s Caribbean Plastic Surgery Clinic. Manuel Jose Nunez was operated on by gynecologist Oscar Polanco at the Caribbean Plastic Surgery Clinic in Santo Domingo, who has been accused of being responsible for at least three more patient fatalities.
Alicia Williams, 45, a teacher from Birmingham, Alabama, also died as a result of complications after a series of cosmetic surgery procedures in the Dominican Republic. After undergoing liposuction, a tummy tuck, and a Brazilian butt lift in the DR, she had several medical problems – including blood clots, and loss of a significant amount of blood – and she tragically passed away.
Leigh Aiple, 31, spent more than $35,000 for a plastic surgery package in Malaysia but died less than 24 hours after returning home. His death has prompted warnings to others contemplating traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery.
CDC Warning Against “Medical Tourism” Plastic Surgery Abroad
The CDC cautions that the majority of health care institutions in the Dominican Republic, and many other countries, that cater to medical tourists do not meet the criteria required by international accrediting organizations.
They emphasize that American travelers going abroad seeking medical tourism surgeries have suffered illnesses, life-threatening infections, medical negligence, and even death.
Why Medical Tourism is so Dangerous
While one may see why people might choose medical tourism, due to the cost savings. But the dangers of unaccredited plastic surgery abroad clearly outweigh any financial advantages.
Some concerns of medical tourism plastic surgery are:
#1. Sanitization: In the United States, sterilization protocols and testing are conducted. There is no way to know how sanitary and well-maintained the instruments are in another country.
If a tool is not adequately sterilized, it may wind up costing the patients a lot more money in the long term due to infection, prolonged hospitalization, and botched aesthetic effects… as well as death.
#2. Training: Similarly, a patient does not know how a physician has been educated in another country, as opposed to how surgeons are trained in the United States.
In the United States, people may check to see whether a physician is registered, licensed, and trained to practice in a certain specialty. When searching the internet for foreign providers, you do not have the same degree of security.
In the United States, patients can ascertain their surgeon’s surgical skill level if they seek out an American Board of Plastic Surgery board certified plastic surgeon, like Dr. Ali in Birmingham, MI. Additionally, in the US one can seek out surgeons (again like Dr. Ali) who are members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which is comprised entirely of specialized plastic surgeons who continue their medical training and who focus exclusively on cosmetic surgery.
#3. Blood Supply: Medical tourism patients should also take into account the safety of the blood supply in hospitals located abroad. Numerous surgical procedures require blood transfusions – and if a patient has complications a transfusion is even more likely.
The blood supply in the US is highly regulated and exhaustively tested. But the blood supplies they are utilizing in another country may be safe or may not, and the fact is that there is no way to know for certain. Contaminated blood can lead to infection, diseases (such as HIV), and even death.
Don’t Risk Your Life on Plastic Surgery Abroad
Currently, medical tourism is unregulated, with bundle packages intended to allow patients to have the greatest number of operations possible in the quickest amount of time, regardless of any risk. And, despite what foreign physicians and clinics may promote, International standards simply do not exist.
Having plastic surgery performed abroad carries a considerable risk, since there is no assurance of the caliber or safety of the treatment you will get.
Board-certified Birmingham, MI plastic surgeon Dr. Ali and our caring staff urge you not to consider going abroad for plastic surgery – even if it is cheaper. In the end, one “gets what one pays for” – and what you may be paying for with medical tourism is disfigurement or death.
Plastic Surgery | Birmingham, MI
Birmingham area board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has helped thousands of women and men love their appearance and improve their confidence and quality of life with cosmetic surgery – safely and without complications.
Schedule a consultation and take the first step toward getting the plastic surgery you have always wanted – and look and feel like the best version of “you” that you can be! And if cost is an issue we can help you with easy financing options so that cost concerns do not steer you in a dangerous direction abroad!
Plastic Surgery Consultation | Birmingham, MI: 248-335-7200
Why Black Americans Are Getting More Botox & Facial Fillers
/in Botox, Facial Filler /by adminWhy Black Americans Are Getting More Botox & Facial Fillers Than Ever Before
Allure magazine just ran a very interesting article about the increasing use of Botox and facial fillers among Black Americans.
In this article renowned Birmingham, MI plastic surgeon Dr. M. Azar Ali continues this discussion and addresses some of the issues and concerns of men and women of color when considering Botox and/or facial fillers.
The Stigma of Cosmetic Procedures Has Disappeared
Many Bay Boomers were raised with a stigma surrounding treatments such as Botox or facial fillers. But now younger generations of Americans of all races are abandoning the shame associated with having work done.
Cosmetic treatments are now a subject that is now socially acceptable on a broad scale. While Baby Boomers and Gen X tend to see these procedures as remedial medicine, millennials and Gen Z tend to view aesthetic intervention as self-care and preventative medicine.
As a result, Botox and facial fillers have experienced a significant rise in interest among Black and brown patients.
Botox, Facial Fillers & Black Representation
One significant problem with injectable and other treatments has been representation in marketing portrayals.
When most of these aesthetic and anti-aging treatments were initially launched, they were marketed only to white women. Frustratingly, clinical studies of their effectiveness were also performed almost exclusively on white women.
So, for many women and men of color, it has traditionally been hard to see or envision themselves indulging in these cosmetic procedures. And, while the media still has a long way to go, thanks to more inclusivity in advertising Black individuals are now being included in the media conversation about Botox, facial fillers and other cosmetic products and treatments.
Statistics on Black Use of Botox & Facial Fillers
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ (ASPS) 2020 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, over 15.5 million cosmetic procedures were done in the United States alone. Botox was the most widely used coming in first position with 4.4 million procedures, followed by facial fillers at 3.4 million procedures.
In that report the ASPS noted that just 11% of all cosmetic procedures and 4% of Botox injections were performed on Black patients in 2020. But they also reported that Black interest in these procedures is increasing.
According to the same report, 1.78 million Black Americans had cosmetic operations in 2020, up from 1.77 million in 2019 and 1.68 million in 2018 to.
Unique Skin Concerns of Black Botox Patients
Aging seems to be somewhat different in patients of color. To begin with, “photo-aging” (skin damage due to UV sun exposure) happens more slowly in darker skin due to the increased amount of melanin. So, while Black patients may experience skin dullness and hyperpigmentation, typically, Black patients do not have skin that wrinkles very much with age.
Many Black men and women never develop true forehead lines. One is more likely to see vertical “11” lines between the eyebrows than to notice horizontal forehead lines. Whereas someone of the same age who is Caucasian will often have lines across the forehead in addition to the 11 lines. However, if you look at Asian populations, you’ll see that they often get crow’s feet more frequently than they develop forehead lines or “11s”.
Botox is ideal for treating the parallel, vertical “11s” between the eyes in patients with darker skin tones. It is also highly effective as a kind of “prejuvenation,” with younger patients receiving lower doses of Botox to prevent the development of creases between the eyes as they age.
Unique Skin Concerns of Black Facial Filler Patients
Collagen levels peak at age 22, and each year afterwards, a person loses roughly 1% of that collagen. While black individuals do not age as quickly as those with less pigmentation, decreasing collagen causes substantial volume loss in people of all skin colors.
This loss of facial volume can result in the development of smile lines, hollowness under the eyes, and sagging skin in the cheeks, jowls, and nasolabial areas. Facial fillers administered in these areas can restore youthful volume and plumpness to Black or brown skin.
Botox & Facial Filler Providers for Black Skin | Birmingham
Many Med Spas fail to understand the unique needs of African-American and others with melanin-rich skin.
Sadly, if you look at medical textbooks and training materials many (if not most) of the accompanying images present lighter and white skin tones. This has unfortunately produced a “blind zone” in many practices’ treatment of Black skin, since procedure results appear differently on darker skin.
It is critical to have cosmetic physicians and aestheticians who understand Black and brown skin, and who have years of experiencing treating patients of color. Dr. Ali himself, has very dark skin himself – so he not only comprehends the issues unique to darker skin tones, he has experienced them firsthand.
If you are a person of color who is interested in exploring the anti-aging and skin rejuvenating possibilities of Botox or facial fillers, you can trust your skin to Dr. Ali at AMAE Plastic Surgery & Med Spa.
Schedule consultation at AMAE Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Birmingham and Dr. Ali will take the time to assess your unique skin and understand your personal aesthetic goals. Then he will customize a treatment plan based on your individual skin type, tone, color and condition – so that you will achieve the best results and look your best at any age.
Botox & Facial Fillers for Black Skin: 248-335-7200