12/11/2025
Complications like the recent case in Vietnam are incredibly tragic. Surgical rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty are generally safe procedures in capable hands, but no medical treatment, surgical or nonsurgical, is ever completely risk-free. These moments remind all of us in aesthetics how important it is to approach patient care with honesty, compassion, and balanced education.
That said, I also think it’s important to recognize how information can be shaped online. In this video, I’m demonstrating what it would sound like if I described surgery using the same fear-driven tone that some surgeons use when talking about fillers. When we highlight one rare complication to create panic around an entire category of treatments, it misleads patients and creates unnecessary fear. The reality is that filler, especially hyaluronic acid filler, has one of the best safety profiles in aesthetics when performed by experienced injectors who understand anatomy and technique.
My goal isn’t to diminish the seriousness of what happened, nor to pit surgery against nonsurgical treatments. Both have their place, both can produce beautiful results, and both require expertise. My message is simply this: patients deserve education, not fear-mongering. When we talk about risk with nuance and accuracy, we empower people to make informed choices, not scared ones.
