Has anyone ever died from FFS or complications?

[Lauren1]

Like I can't find any cases of this. Oddly. Considering how invasive this surgery is. And how horrible it is for your body. What is the worst you have heard or know of?

[LordKAT]

Look up olivia goldsmith.

Wikipedia lists 5 other people form plastic surgery in general.

[Hikari]

Anytime you go under general anesthesia, there is a chance of death. Of course, there is that chance of death everytime you drive a car too.

[LordKAT]

Anytime you go under general anesthesia, there is a chance of death. Of course, there is that chance of death everytime you drive a car too.

or get out of bed for that matter.

[Flan]

There's a wrongful death lawsuit against dr Z still in the courts. short version of the story is supposedly Zukowski left the facility after performing an otherwise uneventful surgery and a complication happened with the patient that the nurse in charge was unable or not trained to handle resulting in death of the patient.

https://w3.courtlink.lexisnexis.com/cookcounty/Finddock.asp?DocketKey=CABC0L0AAADJE0LD

[Apples Mk.II]

Anytime you go under general anesthesia, there is a chance of death. Of course, there is that chance of death everytime you drive a car too.

Actually, I'm the kind of person that can't wake up from normal anesthesia, so if I had not informed (and sent a massive blood test), crap would happen.

[EmmaD]

There is always a chance with any surgery whether or not under general anaesthetic.  In a week, I am getting some repairs to my nose and will be out for an hour.  About 5 weeks later, FFS and out for much longer.  I accept the risk both procedures pose.  The first, I want to be able to breathe.  The second, happy happy happy! Both can potentially trip me up.

If I were to suffer complications and not make it, I would not expect it to hit the media unless someone stuffs up and even then it probably won't.  I once had a dental procedure with a Doc who had lost a patient.  Apparently, the patient hadn't disclosed a medical condition.  This illustrates a very important aspect of surgery.  The surgeons must know enough about you to be able to do the job safely so be complete with disclosures.  That said, accidents happen, mistakes happen.  Sometimes, ->-bleeped-<- happens.  That's life, I guess!

[Alice Rogers]

I can't say I am too worried about FFS, but the GRS/SRS/GAS (whatever we are calling it this week!) scares me to death.

Still going through with it though, NOT getting my surgery scares me more!

Alice
xx

[warlockmaker]

I had this explained to me that SRS and FFS were only superficial surgery and there is no cutting thru muscles or organs which create a surgery risk. There is in both SRS and FFS surgeries a risk of anesthesia problems. Both surgeries last for 5 hours and this is considered medium term for anesthesia. In spine operations or hip replacement the surgery can last over 9 hours. I have had one operation in my life and that was a face lift lasting 5 hours and had bad nausea on waking and I've been told its due to my lack of tolerence to morphine. This can be managed if you instruct the anesthologist and have a good nurse to follow up when you wake with anti nausea. I'm scheduled for FFS early next year and of course there is that fear but its what needs to be done.

[Lara1969]

I had srs and ffs. In my personal view the largest risk for ffs comes from anesthesia. My ffs lasted 7hr. Surgery in the face itself is less risky regarding death and normally the healing is fast and uneventfull. I stayed two nights in the hospital.

Srs is far more invasive and painful, mine lasted 5hr. There are decent risk like infection, massive blooding and so on. And afterwards there is a decent risk of clodding because for some weeks you will spend lots of time in the bed. There are also lots of nasty complications possible.

In the end it depends how skilled and responsible your doc is and how healthy you are. I looked to find experienced docs (facial team and Dr. Schaff) for both surgeries and the result was nearly perfect in terms of passing, feeling, beauty. I only had a minor complication with my urethra which should be solved now by my surgeon Dr. Schaff. I am extremly happy and I enjoy life so much, it is unbelievable! Even after waking up with only a few hours of sleep because our four months twins needed me, I go to work with a smile.,

Lara

[Ms Grace]

There is always the risk of complications from any surgical procedures. Doesn't matter how simple or routine the operation is there is always the risk it can go wrong.

[kelly_aus]

Surgical mishaps are a possibility, in addition to the standard risks of anaesthesia.. I know a woman who had FFS done and ended up with a CSF leak that took some time to track down - requiring more than one trip to the OR.

[thesupreme]

The hair line lowering is only possible with those tissue expanders? Or it can be done without them too? I don't think I need much lowering... just on the sides a bit.

[Jess42]

Anytime you go under anesthesia, there are more risk than some times the surgery itself. I personally wouldn't worry too much about it though.

[Jessica Merriman]

Surgery = who knows.

[Paula1]

Now where do I start.

I transitioned in 1988 and have had the following operations all with GA.

1989 - Tracheal Shave
1990 - 1st Rhinoplasty and Breast Augmentation.
1991 - SRS which went wrong and I prolapsed.
1992 - SRS Revision
1993 - SRS Revision
1993 - 2nd Breast Augmentation
1993 - SRS Revision
1997 - Colonvaginaplasty
2004 - FFS
2006 - Leg varicose Vein surgery
2007 - Hammer Toe surgery
2008 - Another hammer toe operation
2009 - SRS Labia revision
2012 - Mastopexy(Breast Lift) & leaking breast implants removal
2014 - FFS Revision

Still to come:

2015 - Another minor leg varicose vein operation

So that's 16 and still counting, let alone two hernia operations and one foot operation many years ago.

Having GA does not really scare me now despite knowing all the risks.

I have the utmost faith with today's anaesthetists who have enormous knowledge now with all the latest techniques plus the rigorous pre-operative checks that are carried out to reduce the risk to a minimum.

The way that I look at it now is that if something dreadful goes wrong in the operating theatre, I have had a good life but will still be cheated as I have lots more to do.

I will not know anything about it but all my friends who are left behind will, and that is the very sad part.

But c'est la vie !!!!

[Paula1]

Silly me, I forgot to mention.

I am very fit for my age (69) and walk 2-3 miles a day, swim, play table tennis etc.

Most people who don't know my age think I am in my early to mid 50's and I really like that.

Before any of my more major operations, I worked even harder on my fitness level.

I have never smoked or taken drugs and only drink socially on the odd occasion.

I also have a good diet (lots of salads), take appropriate vitamins etc.

My advice to anyone is to look after your body as it's the only one you are going to get.

This will help reduce GA risk.

[Jess42]

Silly me, I forgot to mention.

I am very fit for my age (69) and walk 2-3 miles a day, swim, play table tennis etc.

Most people who don't know my age think I am in my early to mid 50's and I really like that.

Before any of my more major operations, I worked even harder on my fitness level.

I have never smoked or taken drugs and only drink socially on the odd occasion.

I also have a good diet (lots of salads), take appropriate vitamins etc.

My advice to anyone is to look after your body as it's the only one you are going to get.

This will help reduce GA risk.

Just my opinion and there is nothing wrong with living a healthy life. But... I have a friend that had a massive heart attack, we were the same age, He ran at least five miles a day. Went to the gym every other day and lifted weights and here I am drinking too much. If I need to lose weight, I back down the calories. I smoke. Not to mention my job was a lot more stressful than his. Genetics.

I was under anesthsia once. Had to do a chest x ray and blood test before. No problem. Sometimes your number wil come up. But surgery is safer than driving for sure. Even major open heart surger or brain surgery is safer than driving on the road. Even sitting too much can kill you. So I wouldn;t worry none about it. You will be in good hands.

[PinkCloud]

There are so many things that can go wrong with the body, from a medical point of view, it is just incredible and a miracle we are all still alive and wake up everyday in relative good health. I know someone who died from a splinter in his foot. The line between life and death is as thick as the skin. It is best not to worry about it, otherwise you might turn into hypochondriac.

[JLT1]

Hi,

I heard about the lawsuit against Dr Z before I went to him for my surgery.  During our initial conversation, we also talked a little bit about my background as a chemist and molecular toxicologist.  (Starting in late 1999 and continuing until 2004, I performed much of the original analysis of blood samples from people who had been treated using plasmapheresis for overdose or for certain chronic exposures to biologically active chemicals.  The analysis and subsequent interpretation was done outside of my regular 8-6 job.  My volunteer effort got the work pick up starting in 2002 by others who were better suited for publishing the results.) While Dr Z never said anything specific about the lawsuit, I never the less felt safe with Dr Z.  I was correct, I had a 17 hour surgery, the longest he has ever performed and I'm fine. 

There are risks with any surgery and yes, people die.  There are risks with taking many pharmaceuticals (I KNOW that one).  There are risks everywhere.  For me, the risk was worth the potential result.  I would do it again, with Dr Z, in a moment.  I have a consult scheduled with him on July 10 for a revision on my nose and skin tightening on my body.  Possibly, there will be some breast shaping.

As far as SRS – I've had 12 surgeries now – that on frightens me.  It's very easy to do wrong.  Selection of a surgeon is very important.  VERY important.

Jen