Cosmetic surgery tourism linked to infections, deaths, CDC says

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on June 2 that many Americans suffered serious complications — including bacterial infections and, in some cases, death — after traveling within the country and abroad for cosmetic procedures.

The agency cited a study published in its Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, which reviewed more than 2,100 reports from 2014 to 2024 of U.S. residents who traveled for cosmetic procedures, including liposuction and breast augmentation.

The study identified 21 reports involving about 145 patients who experienced adverse outcomes, including infections, associated with both domestic and international surgery centers and clinics.

"More and more people are getting medical procedures outside the United States, but there are risks," said Kiara McNamara, a CDC nurse epidemiologist and the lead author of the latest study.

A previous CDC study found that more than 3 million Americans traveled abroad for medical tourism – largely dental procedures – in 2016 alone.

People commonly seek medical care abroad owing to lower costs, culturally familiar providers, or procedures that are unavailable or not approved in the United States. Common treatments for which residents travel include dental care, cosmetic surgery, fertility care, transplants and cancer.

U.S. residents often travel to Mexico and Canada, as well as countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean for medical tourism, according to the CDC's website.

Postsurgical infections were found in 20 reports, this latest study showed, including 12 suspected or confirmed cases of bacterial infections.

Four of the reports involved patient deaths, the agency said, adding that one domestic and one international investigation found significant lapses in environmental cleaning, personal protective equipment use, hand hygiene and surgical equipment reprocessing.

The CDC has said patients are more likely to get an antibiotic-resistant infection in some countries, and counterfeit medicines and lower-quality medical devices may be used there, but experts have told USA TODAY there’s little evidence that procedures abroad are riskier than those available in the U.S.

Regardless of the destination, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery warns that sitting for long periods on a plane or in a car can increase the risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs. And experts typically advise against common activities that may be tempting in vacation destinations – such as swimming, sunbathing and drinking alcohol – after surgery. 

The CDC urged stronger surveillance, closer collaboration between healthcare providers and public health agencies, and more proactive patient education to spot complications early and help prevent them.

"You can go anywhere. Just make sure you do your homework and go to (a surgeon) that is well-trained and respected," Renato Saltz, former president and board member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s board previously told USA TODAY.

The CDC also notes that you are more likely to get an antibiotic-resistant infection in some countries, and counterfeit medicines and lower-quality medical devices may be used in some countries.

Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY