:ermm: In New York City, the reports started coming in early this year. Women went to their doctors complaining of boils, swelling and red splotches on their skin. They had developed fevers, infections and horrible pain. Many had severe scars.
In recent months, doctors have traced the problems to what has apparently become a phenomenon among New York City's Latinas: haphazard cosmetic surgery conducted in the Dominican Republic after being arranged through beauty salons in Washington Heights and other city neighborhoods. The salons act as conduits for the procedure, with recruiters, some from the Dominican Republic, visiting hairdressing parlors, where they casually mention to customers that they know of cheap places to get liposuction, tummy tucks and breast augmentation.
Nine women in New York City have come forward to report complications stemming from such procedures, but the City Health Department believes many more people have developed infections.
The health commissioner, Thomas R. Frieden, and other officials urge people not to go to the Dominican Republic for cosmetic surgery. Recently, during a bilingual news conference in Washington Heights, they warned against trying to save money by leaving the U.S. to have such procedures.
In recent months, doctors have traced the problems to what has apparently become a phenomenon among New York City's Latinas: haphazard cosmetic surgery conducted in the Dominican Republic after being arranged through beauty salons in Washington Heights and other city neighborhoods. The salons act as conduits for the procedure, with recruiters, some from the Dominican Republic, visiting hairdressing parlors, where they casually mention to customers that they know of cheap places to get liposuction, tummy tucks and breast augmentation.
Nine women in New York City have come forward to report complications stemming from such procedures, but the City Health Department believes many more people have developed infections.
The health commissioner, Thomas R. Frieden, and other officials urge people not to go to the Dominican Republic for cosmetic surgery. Recently, during a bilingual news conference in Washington Heights, they warned against trying to save money by leaving the U.S. to have such procedures.