Cosmetic surgery chains targeted in lawsuits over disfiguring injuries, deaths

Editor's Note

A growing subset of cosmetic surgery chains, some backed by private equity, have been named in multiple lawsuits alleging serious patient harm, according to an August 1 article in KFF Health News.

Based on a joint investigation with NBC News, the outlets reports that chains offering body-reshaping operations like “Mommy Makeovers and liposuction—often charging as much as $20,000 out-of-pocket—have contributed to various disfiguring injuries and other serious events, including 12 wrongful death cases filed over the past seven years. Specific accusations include hiring doctors with minimal cosmetic surgery training, failing to recognize and treat life-threatening infections and other complications, and using high-pressure sales tactics that minimized safety risks.

As detailed in the article, many established plastic surgeons have raised concerns that such chains may focus more on marketing and patient recruitment than on ensuring physicians are properly credentialed or equipped to manage complications. The full report offers testimony from both plastic surgeons and affected patients.