Can Liposuction Be Deadly?

There are no recorded national statistics on the number of fatalaties caused by plastic surgery. However, New York City examiners found that, between 1993-98, five people died during or just after liposuction -- a procedure where surgeons suction fat from areas of the body.

While these numbers are low, the New York Times says experts have called this "cause for serious concern, because liposuction is not medically necessary and is performed on healthy people."

(June 1999)