You Can’t Spell Danger without “D.R.” – The Bad, The Worse, and The Honest Truth About Surgery in the Dominican Republic
You Can’t Spell Danger without “D.R.” – The Bad, The Worse, and The Honest Truth About Surgery in the Dominican Republic
I’ve been contemplating on writing about this very controversial topic for months now, and I am sure I will catch some heat. But I rather be disliked for being raw honest than liked for being fake! I am heartbroken to see so many women falling victim to the likes of unrealistic and photoshopped “wish pics” on Instagram, and going to the Dominican Republic because you like the “look” and you want aggressive lipo. You can also find a doctor in DR who will do every single surgery you need…in one visit! You can get your breasts done, a tummy tuck, lipo, and a BBL during an 8-hour surgery. This is not safe. In fact, it’s extremely risky. Period.
Can we get real for a minute? I’m about to “go there”
Why do you think that the “King” of ‘the DR’ has such a high body count? Or perhaps you didn’t hear about his body count on IG? Yes, I am talking about Dr. Cabral…and I’m not hiding it. I’m not throwing shade at him, I am throwing reality. I am certainly not the only one who says something about that “surgeon.” This is not my opinion, it is a terrifying fact readily available and on public record; found with even just a little due diligence – all over the blogs, online, IG, the closed Facebook groups, and everywhere else.
For a minute, let’s break it down – The reality is that being under sedation for that long and having multiple procedures in one surgery is incredibly dangerous; hence the body count. Yes, there have been some deaths here in the United States (and especially down in the Miami “chop shop” market…but that’s another topic for another blog). However, they are from various doctors – not the same doctor with multiple deaths. In the United States, so many deaths from a single physician would immediately catch the attention of the medical board who would immediately investigate; like they did with Omupelu down in Miami. You may remember that he had 4 deaths in one week (!); and they issued an emergency restriction of his license until further investigation.
Make no mistake, you are putting yourself at serious risk for multiple complications for doing that many procedures in one shot…let alone in DR. This is coming from someone who has extensive experience with the medical facilities and standards in the region – I did a medical mission doing cleft palate and oral surgeries in the Dominican Republic some time ago; and I was quite alarmed at the standard of care, hygiene, sanitation, and safety I saw. Unfortunately, you have to work with what you have; and not everything is going to be pristine and up to the same standards and regulations we have in the United States. Are there great surgeons and doctors there? No doubt about it! At the end of the day, however, you must realize that the Dominican Republic is still a third world country and you are being fooled by the dangerous and unrealistic expectations created on Instagram.
Let this sink in – every one of my patients that has gone to the DR for plastic surgery (even if it was for one procedure) has had some sort of complication or come back with bad work as the result. Every. Single. One.
I had a heart to heart talk with one of my patients and she openly admitted that she regrets it; now she has horrible fibrosis and skin irregularities from aggressive lipo.
She can’t wear a bikini, and well…your options are very limited for repair because a tummy tuck is no guarantee that it will fix irregularities; as you have all seen with some of the women that share their journey on IG and talk about it openly.
I also have been getting reports from some of my colleagues that they are getting these severely infected wounds coming from DR with a rare TB strain of bacteria that is unique to DR. And guess what?! We don’t know how to treat it! This is not a bacteria that is found in the USA; and you also have to take into account the severe issue we have in the United States with antibiotic resistance – again, that’s a whole other topic.
The way plastic surgery is being practiced in DR from what you all tell me is not safe. Many of the girls are dying, coming back with complications and infections. Worse still, the chances of a finding US doctor to touch you is slim to none due to liability and other malpractice issues. Therefore, most of you that get surgery can’t even find a person to drain you, let alone treat you not even in the ER. I just had a patient tell me last week that her doctor did an epidural to do her BBL in DR! I was shocked. An epidural to do a BBL?!
There’s also the issue of proportions…
A few other clients of mine are actually getting reductions of their “diaper butts” because they look so disproportionate from the sides and from behind. The proportions coming out of the DR are so cartoonish it doesn’t look good. Even the Atlanta and NYC booty strippers are getting reductions! This is the truth. The real raw truth. Many of the patients look good from the front and from an angle. But have you legit taken a pic straight on from behind, or a lateral view? The proportions are so off (waist to hip ratio) that these girls look like ants. Yes, I’m telling you what no one else is telling you. OK, so let’s say your waist is snatched and its tiny, but so are your legs which don’t transition evenly up to your butt. The ‘banana roll’ has been lipo’d and it has dropped your butt and now it looks like a saggy diaper. It is not aesthetically pleasing. When it looks real fake, it’s not a good job. Just because you have 6L of fat to be removed it doesn’t mean you have to inject all 6L in your butt.
2017 is the year of the reductions and most of you that have gotten huge BBLs have realized that it is not a good look and hence are getting reductions (look at K. Michelle for example and Kim K). You want to look good and curvy…not like an ant. I asked Dr. Slobodianik (an amazing plastic surgeon that practices in Venezuela and Spain) what he thought about these bodies coming out of DR. He said one thing; “Horrible.” Another plastic surgeon that wanted to remain anonymous said, “There are limits to everything and anything exaggerated looks awful and tacky. These girls coming out of DR look so deformed. Everyone is looking but no one is saying anything to them!”
Here’s the “bottom” line…
I know I cannot stop everyone from going to DR to get cheap surgery. People are going to continue to go to these butchers no matter what, because vanity is worth more than their lives and clearly are willing to take incredibly high risks for it. Of course, there is risk when getting any kind of surgery here or abroad. However, your risks are a much, much higher and likely in a country where the standards of care are not regulated. Here we have limits, and there are rules set state by state. Also, if something goes wrong in the United States, you get immediate medical attention and the doctor is held
accountable for your health and safety.
If you’re looking at surgery in the DR because of the low, low price – please understand that you have no business getting plastic surgery if you can’t afford it. Why? The financial part of plastic surgery STARTS at the procedure. The aftercare and maintenance is expensive; and people do not factor in the cost of that. Massages and care post-surgery can add up to at least half or equal of what you paid for surgery. Also, things happen even to the best of the best. Plastic surgery is still the PRACTICE of MEDICINE. If something goes wrong or you need a revision, that costs money too and you have to pay for that.
During my stay at a recovery house in Miami when I had breast reduction with Dr. Blinski, there were girls here that had no money for their medications post-op. That was just so crazy to me that people would scrape up every penny for surgery…and not have $10 in their account for their antibiotic or pain pills and asking other girls for meds. Having plastic surgery is a significant elective procedure and luxury and your recovery is dependent on not just a good surgeon; but also your compliance and your aftercare. Some girls go as far as starting a GoFundMe account for their post care or revision surgeries because they’ve had bad outcomes (why should others pay for an optional procedure you chose to have?) This is like buying a Mercedes-Benz and not being able to afford the car insurance and premium gasoline to drive the car so you ask you friends or mom for gas money.
The price of a surgeon should never be your deciding factor. Many have told me they go to DR because its half the price but so is the result and the aftercare. Once you get on that plane, you are fending for yourself. What is your life worth? Think about that – and share your thoughts in the comments below!