Officials in Florida say a new state law would make liposuction safer for patients, and but some are wondering if it goes far enough.
The bill that's been introduced in Tallahassee would require most liposuction procedures to be done in a hospital or surgery center that has been inspected by the state, rather than in a doctor's office.
According to TheHealthLawFirmBlog.com, current regulations do not require physicians in the state who perform liposuction procedures using local sedatives such as lidocaine to have their offices inspected.
"The way liposuction is being done at some of these surgery offices is simply not safe," a Florida plastic surgeon told the Orlando Sentinel. "Making these places get certified and inspected is a great idea."
Ensuring offices are regulated would mean that doctors would have basic life-support training and certain life-saving equipment, which have been absent in some fatal cases, according to the newspaper.
The bill was introduced following the deaths of several Florida women in their 30s who underwent liposuction.
The current version of the bill has received little opposition so far, and some are even saying that it could do more to protect the public. Bills that were previously rejected would have required med-spas to be regulated and doctors to use an anesthetist for all liposuction procedures.
Some have even proposed that in-office liposuctions should be banned altogether.
Still, many say the current version of the legislation would help to weed out physicians who are not properly trained to perform these procedures.
"Liposuction is a great tool, and done on the right patient, it leads to great results," a Florida-based plastic surgeon told WTSP.com. "I think this bill will help weed out the real plastic surgeons from what I consider to be the fake plastic surgeons."
Liposuction remains one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries available. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, more than 289,000 individuals underwent the procedure in 2010, making it the second most common surgical procedure performed by plastic surgeons.
Individuals can help ensure their safety during liposuction and other cosmetic procedures by checking that their doctor is licensed and board-certified and that their procedure is done in an accredited hospital, surgical center or office-based surgical facility.
For more, visit surgery.org