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VAN NUYS, Calif. — In a world obsessed with perfection, cosmetic surgery has become increasingly popular. However, a new study finds that the pursuit of beauty may come at a hefty price – and not just financially. The research, which analyzed and ranked the most dangerous cosmetic surgeries, has uncovered alarming complication rates that may make even the most determined patients think twice about going under the knife.
Eye Color Change Surgery: A Risky Vision for Beauty
Topping the list of dangerous procedures is eye color change surgery, with a staggering 92.30% complication rate. This controversial procedure, which is not yet FDA-approved, carries significant risks including vision loss, glaucoma, and corneal damage. With recovery times ranging from one to eight weeks and an average cost of $12,000, the survey researchers from Overnight Glasses say patients are literally gambling with their eyesight.
Thigh Lifts and Brazilian Butt Lifts: Beauty at What Cost?
Coming in second on the danger scale are thigh lifts, with a 78% complication rate. This procedure, which aims to sculpt the legs, carries risks of blood clots, infection, and altered skin sensation. The Brazilian Butt Lift, ranking third with a 37.94% complication rate, has gained notoriety not just for its popularity but for its high risk of fat embolism and other severe complications.
Body Transformations: A Heavy Toll on Health
Body lift procedures claim the fourth spot with a 42% complication rate, while breast reduction surgery ranks sixth at 38%. Interestingly, the study found that breast reduction surgeries have twice the complication rate of breast augmentation procedures, which rank eighth with a 14.40% complication rate.
Quick Fixes Aren’t Always Safe
Injectable fillers, often considered a “lunchtime procedure,” surprisingly rank fifth due to a high 64.61% complication rate. While recovery time is short – just one to two days – the frequency of complications such as allergic reactions and asymmetry is concerning.
The Bottom Line
Rounding out the top 10 are butt implants (21.60% complication rate), arm lifts (21.00%), and breast lifts (10.40%). Each of these procedures carries its own set of risks, from implant displacement to nerve damage and changes in sensation.
This comprehensive study considered factors such as complication rates, recovery times, and the severity of potential issues to create a total risk index. The findings serve as a stark reminder that cosmetic procedures, while often portrayed as routine, carry significant risks that patients should carefully consider before going under the knife.
10 Most Dangerous Cosmetic Surgeries
| Cosmetic Surgery | Complication Rate | Average Price | Composite Score |
| Eye Color Change Surgery (Cosmetic Iris Implants, Laser Pigment Removal, Keratopigmentation) | 92.30% | $12,000.00 | 0.8313 |
| Thigh Lift | 78.00% | $6,378.00 | 0.6361 |
| Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) | 37.94% | $11,500.00 | 0.5759 |
| Body Lift | 42.00% | $15,000.00 | 0.5292 |
| Injectable Fillers | 64.61% | $775.00 | 0.5039 |
| Breast Reduction | 38.00% | $8,200.00 | 0.4102 |
| Butt Implants | 21.60% | $7,964.00 | 0.3513 |
| Breast Augmentation | 14.40% | $10,000.00 | 0.298 |
| Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) | 21.00% | $6,192.00 | 0.2973 |
| Breast Lift (Mastopexy) | 10.40% | $8,849.00 | 0.2812 |
Methodology
Data Collection: Researchers with Overnight Glasses gathered data on complication rates, types of complications, recovery times, and mortality rates from reputable medical studies and clinical data.
Normalization: The team normalized each factor to a 0-1 scale to ensure comparability.
Weight Assignment: Researchers assigned different weights to each factor based on their impact on overall danger, with higher weights given to complication rates and severity of complications.
Composite Score Calculation: They calculated a composite score by summing the weighted scores for each procedure.
Popularity Data: Researchers included the popularity of each procedure, measured by search volume, to provide additional insights into their risk profile.
Cost Data: The Overnight Glasses team considered the average costs of each procedure to provide a comprehensive understanding of their risk and economic impact.
Ranking: They ranked the cosmetic surgeries from most to least dangerous based on the composite scores.
The real problem is that medicine promotes and performs these unnecessary surgeries. “First do no harm” means people wanting these cosmetic procedures should get therapy for their body image disorder and low self-esteem, instead of exploiting these people for profit with pricey and risky surgery. Medicine should be about healthcare, not cosmetics. But it is really about profit, not health, as this shows.