CDC flags unsafe cosmetic procedures after reports of fatal complications
The CDC says cosmetic procedures performed abroad have been linked to severe infections and deaths
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about the growing risks linked to cosmetic and medical procedures performed abroad, citing severe infections, complications, and deaths connected to medical tourism.
The agency said on Tuesday that increasing numbers of Americans are traveling domestically and internationally for elective cosmetic surgeries such as liposuction, breast augmentation, dental procedures, and other aesthetic treatments often seeking lower costs or services unavailable in the United States.
According to a CDC review published in its Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, researchers analyzed more than 2,100 reports from 2014 to 2024 involving U.S. residents who underwent cosmetic procedures while traveling.
The review identified 21 reports involving approximately 145 patients who experienced adverse outcomes, including serious infections linked to both domestic and international clinics.
The CDC confirmed that four of the reports involved patient deaths.
Investigations cited in the report revealed major lapses in clinical safety standards, including poor environmental cleaning, improper use of personal protective equipment, inadequate hand hygiene, and unsafe surgical equipment reprocessing in some facilities.
“There are more and more people getting medical procedures outside the United States, but there are risks,” said Kiara McNamara, the lead author of the study.
The report also found 20 cases involving post-surgical infections, including 12 suspected or confirmed bacterial infections.
Officials warned that complications from unsafe procedures can include severe infection, fungal meningitis, paralysis, and in some cases, death.
Health authorities noted that medical tourism is common in destinations including Mexico, Canada, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, where patients often seek lower-cost or culturally familiar care.
The CDC urged stronger surveillance systems, improved coordination between healthcare providers and public health agencies, and better patient education to identify complications earlier and reduce preventable harm.
Officials also reiterated warnings about counterfeit cosmetic injectables and unverified procedures, emphasizing that even routine-seeming cosmetic treatments can carry life-threatening risks when performed in unsafe conditions.