A bleak outlook on beauty: the vital role of anesthesiology in the safety of cosmetic surgery in Colombia.

The article discusses the alarming increase in mortality rates and complications associated with cosmetic surgery in Colombia. It highlights poor surgical techniques, inadequate patient selection, lack of professional training, and inappropriate facilities as contributing factors to these tragic events. Colombia is ranked ninth in the world as a destination for medical tourism, with 470,000 cosmetic surgeries conducted in 2022. The lack of accurate statistics and adverse event reports hinders the understanding of the situation. The article emphasizes the importance of meticulous anesthesia, proper patient selection, comprehensive assessment, and effective communication between anesthesiologists and plastic surgeons to improve patient safety. It calls for ongoing education, the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies, and strengthened regulations to reduce mortality and complications in cosmetic surgery. [Extracted from the article]