Liposuction - She Paid With Her Life

Recently I came across a story that continues to stay with me. Maybe writing about it and passing the story on along with the tragic lesson to learn from it will help save a life.

This particular tragedy happened in May of 2009 but sadly to say, similar stories have played out in the past and continue to do so in many cities across the country. At the very least, maybe it will make people select a hospital instead of a clinic if they absolutely feel they have to have this elective procedure. I would hope they might think twice and explore other options such as a gym membership or personal trainer. Go for "Safe" instead of the "Quick Fix."

Note: Since knowledge is power, I have included in this article some excellent video clips to help you understand how many choices you have in liposuction along with the risk vs. the benefits if you decide to go that route.

It was a local newspaper story about a young woman named Aura, age 28, who died as the result of a decision she made in preparation for her upcoming wedding. She had everything to look forward to in her life - a wonderful fiancee who loved her and a promising career as a software wizard.

This following details did not come out until after Aura was found dead in in a hotel room by the hotel maid.

• Aura checked into a local hotel for the night to recover after undergoing liposuction procedures at a local plastic surgery clinic. She died approximately 12 hours from commencement of her surgery and being found at the hotel.
• No one knew she was going to have the procedures. It was to be a surprise. She had told her bridegroom that she had to go out of town on business.
• Earlier she had decided upon the surgery as a quick and painless method of removing pockets of fat, etc. The surgery was to take 3-1/2 hours.

Wishing to surprise everyone with the results, Aura hadn't told her fiancee or anyone in her family about her liposuction treatment that she had arranged to slim down fast before her wedding.

Aura was looking forward to her up coming wedding to her fiancee of 4 years. Like most women, particularly, young women, she wanted to be especially beautiful for her wedding - wanted to get rid of a few bulges in a fast and easy procedure.

You can imagine how safe she thought the procedure would be when you read some of the advertising materials and their claims: One ad claimed "Sono Bello's micro laser liposuction and ultrasound techniques are so minimally invasive there's virtually no recovery period.” Another said the procedure is “so easy that most of our clients are back to work the next day." In other words, a quick fix - easy and safe.

In its ads, on its Web site and in its brochures, Sono Bello promotes its laser-assisted liposuction as less invasive than traditional liposuction where patients are "put under" using general anesthesia.

"A microprocedure so tiny, it doesn't even need stitches," said one ad. In written materials obtained from patients, Sono Bello claims "we have ruled out the major risk and complications that existed with traditional liposuction by introducing the use of new micro-instruments and laser assistance!" Those marketing materials say the procedures are "virtually painless" and "recovery is easy," allowing patients to return to "work the same or next day," feeling only "the aches and pains you have after a good workout."

When Aura had her procedure done at Sono Bello, it wasn't being licensed or inspected because it's classified as a cosmetic clinic that does not use general anesthesia. But after KING reported her death to the health department, the state established new rules requiring all clinics to be accredited by one of four national agencies.

Liposuction is the most common plastic surgery procedure, but it presents serious risks, logging a mortality rate of 19 deaths per 100,000 cases, according to a report in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, is one of the most common causes of liposuction deaths, lowering blood pressure and inducing the heart to slow and misfire.