Journalists at King 5 have revealed serious problems at a local cosmetic clinic well known in the Seattle area because of their pervasive advertising.  Sono Bello, a clinic that advertises body contouring all over the Puget Sound, is denying accusations of questionable conduct documented by King 5.

What is a cosmetic clinic? Watch this segment for more information on regulation and reporting required for cosmetic clinics in the state of Washington.

This week, King 5 documented several cases of complications – from liposuction and laser treatment, to problems with anesthesia.  One patient reported burns from her laser treatment; another said she experienced blood clots as a result of facial liposuction, and another patient died following a body liposuction procedure under local anesthesia. It is unclear what the qualifications are of practitioners at the clinic, but one of the above mentioned procedures was reportedly performed by a “surgical consultant.”

The cause of death ruled by the medical examiner was “acute lidocaine intoxication” a rare complication that according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons president Phil Haeck, “raises the question of how much lidocaine was placed into the body at the time of the surgery, and whether there was an adequate way to monitor the patient after the surgery.” She was reportedly recovering from the procedure alone in a hotel room.

Make sure you check the qualifications of the people performing your cosmetic procedure to ensure they have formal training in plastic surgery, and make sure the operating facility is accredited and safe.