Five Risky Plastic Surgery Procedures and Their Safer Alternatives in 2024
While you can mitigate some of the risks associated with plastic surgery by choosing an experienced provider, certain procedures inherently carry higher risks. These often include the most cutting-edge and trendy treatments. We're not talking about popular procedures like Brazilian butt lifts and breast augmentations, but rather those that push the boundaries of what is considered safe. Think ski-jump Barbie noses and waist-narrowing rib removals that defy natural anatomy.
While everyone has the right to alter their appearance as they see fit, prioritizing health and safety should never be compromised for cosmetic goals. Many of the most dangerous plastic surgery procedures today have safer alternatives that can meet your aesthetic desires while ensuring the well-being of your loved ones and primary care physician. With expert insights, we delve into five high-risk procedures and their safer counterparts.
1. Eyelash Transplants
For individuals suffering from conditions like alopecia or trichotillomania, or those simply seeking longer, fuller lashes, permanent eyelash transplantation is an option. This procedure mirrors traditional hair transplantation, where donor hairs are taken from the scalp and implanted along the lash line. "The transplanted hairs grow like scalp hair and require regular trimming," explains Dr. Gerald Imber, a board-certified plastic surgeon from New York City.
The accuracy of lash transplant placement is critical, not just for achieving a natural look. Interestingly, pubic hair can be used for grafting. "Some doctors recommend pubic hair transplants due to its curly nature, which I find quite unconventional," says Dr. Imber. Using this type of hair also increases the risk of unsatisfactory results. "Eyelash transplants are generally not advisable, and even less so when pubic hairs are used," warns Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, a board-certified ophthalmologist in Oakland, New Jersey. She emphasizes that the angle of the hair directly affects ocular health and safety. "These hairs are usually much coarser and grow more irregularly than natural eyelashes or even scalp hair."
Transplanted hair, regardless of the donor site, can grow into the eye, posing risks of irritation, abrasion, infection, and long-term vision issues. The irregular growth of pubic hair "significantly increases the risk of hair growing into the eye, leading to potential corneal abrasion," adds Dr. Hilal-Campo. Remember, eyelashes primarily serve as a protective barrier for your eyes against dust, dirt, and debris. Improperly transplanted lashes may not provide the same level of protection as natural ones.
Additionally, consider how this procedure affects your eye's moisture balance. Tiny glands behind the lash line, known as meibomian glands, produce oil that prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. Surgery can disrupt these glands, leading to chronic dry eye symptoms. Long lashes, whether from transplants or other methods, can create a wind tunnel effect, drawing more air into the eye with each blink and causing tears to evaporate faster. "This results in highly irritating dry eye symptoms, including a gritty, scratchy sensation, itchiness, redness, and watering," says Dr. Hilal-Campo. This can ultimately impact your vision.
Instead of eyelash transplants, consider topical solutions. "Latisse can enhance your eyelashes, though it has side effects but is generally safe," says Dr. Imber. Side effects include eyelid and iris hyperpigmentation and permanent fat atrophy beneath the eye. Dr. Hilal-Campo recommends natural treatments, such as those containing castor oil, like her twenty/twenty beauty Get Growing Lash & Brow Serum. "Castor oil's ricinoleic acid binds to lash growth receptors, similar to artificial serums but without the side effects," she explains. "You can also use false lashes occasionally – just prioritize eye health over lash beauty!"
2. Silicone Injections
Silicone injections have long been used to add volume to various body parts. Currently, they are typically used in small amounts, but the medical product, Silikon 1000, is not approved for cosmetic use. Many people seek dangerous silicone injections from unlicensed providers using non-medical-grade materials. (An example is Cardi B's basement butt injections, performed by a woman who caused a fatality with the same treatment.) The FDA strongly advises against using silicone for cosmetic enhancement.
"These injections are illegal for a reason," says Dr. Imber. They are permanent, and even the best results tend to migrate: "Injected silicone for defects and wrinkles must be precisely placed and often moves anyway," he explains. Dr. Andrew Cohen, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Encino, California, adds, "Silicone can become infected or cause a hard tissue mass called a granuloma that requires surgical removal." Once injected, silicone can move freely throughout the body, making it difficult to remove. Attempts to remove existing silicone injections may result in multiple procedures, scarring, or disfigurement.
Beyond cosmetic issues, silicone injections can block blood vessels, leading to tissue necrosis. This embolism can travel through the body, potentially causing a stroke or death.
Instead of silicone, consider hyaluronic acid fillers, which stay in place and last up to two years. They can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if the placement is unsatisfactory or risky. Dr. Imber prefers fat grafts: "Fat grafts are natural as they come from you," he says, noting their high likelihood of permanent results.
3. “Barbie Nose” Rhinoplasty
Primarily performed in Europe and countries like Turkey and Lebanon, a Barbie nose procedure aims to create a small, button-like nose with a low bridge and an upturned, ski-jump-like tip. Reputable providers, like Dr. Imber, refuse to perform this surgery. "The Barbie nose is aesthetically unappealing," he states. "The nose must harmonize with the face." Dr. Cohen agrees: "I don't perform these 'named' nose procedures. I avoid aggressive, unnatural surgeries that distort the face or body."
Beyond the aesthetic oddity, providers avoid this procedure due to high risks, including nasal obstruction and weakened nasal structure, which can cause the nose to collapse. The surgery often removes too much soft tissue and cartilage, leaving insufficient material for reconstruction.
Instead of seeking a surgeon who will create a one-size-fits-all nose, find one who will design a custom nose tailored to your face. "I create what looks good and natural for each patient," says Dr. Cohen, as any skilled rhinoplasty surgeon would.
4. Rib Removal
For those unfamiliar with this procedure, it may sound alarming – don't we need our ribs? However, our lowest ribs are not essential. "They serve no respiratory or protective function," says Dr. Imber. Some patients request rib removal because their lowest ribs protrude prominently, as noted by Dr. Cohen, who has performed such removals. While Dr. Imber acknowledges that rib removal can be safe in skilled hands, "the result isn't worth the risk," he says. Risks include perforating the chest lining and causing a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), along with tissue damage and infection.
Instead of removing ribs, consider less invasive options like liposculpture to achieve a narrower waist. Muscle-stimulating procedures, such as Venus BlissMax, Emsculpt Neo, or TruSculpt Flex, are also recommended.
5. Calf Reduction
The calf is primarily composed of muscle, which can appear bulky for some. Since there is usually little fat, removing muscle is the most effective way to reduce calf size – but it's not advisable. "Surgical reduction of calf muscle is challenging and often leaves an uneven surface," warns Dr. Imber.
If slimming the muscle is your goal, "destroying the nerves that supply the calf muscles can cause muscle atrophy and size reduction," he says. Botox injections and other neurotoxins can limit nerve function, but maintaining results requires recurring treatments, leading to significant costs.
Alternatively, for unwanted fat around the ankle, consider liposuction. "I perform calf reductions through careful liposculpture," says Dr. Cohen. "This is a safe procedure when done by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon."
