Liposuction Leaves Woman Brain Dead

37-Year Old In Coma After Rountine Laser Liposuction Procedure In Fla.

(CBS)  A mother of three is in a coma after having a routine laser liposuction procedure at Weston Med Spa in Weston, Fla. Her devastated family is asking what went wrong.

According to CBS News correspondent Michelle Gielan, laser liposuction is practiced in many plastic surgery offices across the country.

"It's a procedure that's so safe that the government allows us to do in an office setting under local anesthesia, without all the regulatory equipment that an anesthesiologist would require," said Dr. Jason Shapiro, an aesthetic doctor.

Then how did Rohi Kah-Orukotan, a 37-year-old mother of three end, up on life support after this minimally invasive procedure?

Brian Bieber, attorney for Dr. J. Omar Brito, who performed the liposuction on Kah-Orukotan at his Florid meidical spa, said in a statement, "All pre-op procedures were followed. The surgery ran smoothly until the end when there was a complication. The doctor did nothing wrong and we are cooperating fully with the investigation."

But her family wants answers as to how this could have gone so wrong.

"We just want the whole world to know that Rohi is a very sweet lady and we just hate to lose her and for those kids to be without their mother," said
Oking Habib, the victim's uncle.

The family has hired an attorney amid allegations that the Weston Med Spa is not licensed to perform liposuction.

"Something went horribly wrong, because a 37-year-old healthy woman doesn't go in for these types of procedures that were advertised on their Web site and come out brain dead," said attorney Michael Freeland.

The lawyer for the victim's family suspects complications arose from the use of the anesthetic lidocaine.

[gramto8]

I suppose you are all aware that when a person loses weight, the fat cells in their body merely shrink. They do not disappear. Those cells are there ready to regain size, and they do so more easily than when they were originally formed.
Liposuction or open surgery to remove the fat are the only ways to remove the fat cells and thereby guarantee that they will not be available to refill.

[pjo5110]

I completely agree with mswolfestock. Why did she risk her life to have a little fat suctioned out of her bottom. Our society has been conditioning people to strive for "absolute perfection" for years. Yes in a sense her own vanity cost her her life, but its also societies fault for driving people to have cosmetic procedures for a perfection that really doesn't exist.

[lingualingua]

It is truly disheartening to see the insensitive and blatantly ignorant remarks of some of the individuals below. This woman, for whatever reason, chose to spend her money on self-improvement. She obviously did not intend to endanger herself or abandon her family. Regardless of her race or political affiliation, she is a human being first and foremost. It's sad to see people lack sympathy for death, whatever the cause may be. Nearly 75% of the celebrities idolized have had physical alterations or drug addictions, and some of the same people commenting below are avid followers and fans. Let's not be hypocrites---or racist.
Everyone be blessed.

[mswolfestock]

I'm just sorry that this gorgeous woman was so unhappy with herself that she risked her life for an "improvement."

I'm wondering if the guy was properly trained, was he Board Certified? I'd rather keep on working with diet and exercise than risk near-death, and for what - a couple of pounds? What a waste!!

[rf35]

Well, which is it? Brain dead or coma? There is a difference. People come out of comas, but brain death is permanent. I wonder what little tid-bit of information the doctor wasn't given about her medical history that might have changed the outcome. Healthy 37 year olds don't just drop dead after an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthetics. Then there is the possibility she had a reaction to the lidocaine. I've heard of similar deaths attributed to Novocain; people dying during routine dental work. No drug is 100% safe for 100% of people 100% of the time. Many people are willing to risk paying the ultimate price for their vision beauty.

[cherry-brown]

It would be really funny to be around when you get to a point in your life that you are no longer able to 'get off your butt' but for some reason your body still demands food. I would love to see just how you handle the fact that you are going to gain weight.

__________________________________________
this woman is 37. nice try though.

__________________________________________

Exactly. No one, especially a 37 year old should be having fat sucked out of their body. Put down the twinkie and get off the couch.

[babooph]

Is that what happened to Rush....?

[retiredgustav]

How sad!

[PlasticSurgeonsSociety]

Liposuction is plastic surgery - which is real surgery. Having a procedure such as this is an important decision that should be undertaken seriously. Patients should be sure their plastic surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)and any surgery performed under anesthesia, other than minor local anesthesia and/or minimal oral tranquilization, should be done in a facility that is accredited by a national or state recognized accrediting agency/organization such as the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)and licensed by the state.

All members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons are board-certified by the ABPS and are required to perform procedures in accredited facilities. If you are interested in plastic surgery, visit www.plasticsurgery.org for accurate information on all procedures, patients safety tips, and a referral service to find and ASPS Member Surgeon in your area.

[erasmus111]

"It's a procedure that's so safe that the government allows us to do in an office setting under local anesthesia, without all the regulatory equipment that an anesthesiologist would require,"


That's just BULLCRAP. Plastic surgeons say that lyposuction can cause problems.

[cptdeuce]

Rohi Kah-Orukotan must have been on the Republican Plan where supposedly they just want people to die quickly. Oh wait, she was black - nevermind - she most assuredly voted for Obama.

[birdyspice]

cptdeuce must've voted for obama too.. oh wait.. nevermind, he/she is just an idiot.

[birdyspice]

cptdeuce must've voted for obama too.. oh wait.. nevermind, he/she is just an idiot who voted for mccain/palin

[cherry-brown]

Ya and that crazy fool who interrupted Taylor Swift-just my point.....pitiful lazy idiots who need to exercise and stop eating so much.

[cherry-brown]

Her fat butt should have tried diet and jogging. How lazy can you be to risk your LIFE having this done instead of stop shoveling food in your mouth and get off your butt??? Pathetic.

I see the family has already hired a "lawyer". Code for they will try to get as much $$$$$$$$$ as possible. Sick.

[gramto8]

by cherry-brown October 1, 2009 1:19 PM EDT
Her fat butt should have tried diet and jogging. How lazy can you be to risk your LIFE having this done instead of stop shoveling food in your mouth and get off your butt??? Pathetic.
________________________________________________

It would be really funny to be around when you get to a point in your life that you are no longer able to 'get off your butt' but for some reason your body still demands food. I would love to see just how you handle the fact that you are going to gain weight.

[mjvwsr]

by gramto8 October 1, 2009 10:14 PM EDT
by cherry-brown October 1, 2009 1:19 PM EDT
Her fat butt should have tried diet and jogging. How lazy can you be to risk your LIFE having this done instead of stop shoveling food in your mouth and get off your butt??? Pathetic.
________________________________________________

It would be really funny to be around when you get to a point in your life that you are no longer able to 'get off your butt' but for some reason your body still demands food. I would love to see just how you handle the fact that you are going to gain weight.

__________________________________________
this woman is 37. nice try though.

[fabrat1]

Her getting off her butt isn't as important as learning to love yourself even if you do carry a few extra pounds!!!!

[birdyspice]

actually, some people are as thin as they want to be but want to change their shape. exercise cannot transform the shape of a woman's body unless she wants to look like a dude from having so much muscle. i have a scrawny g/f whose saddlebags won't go away. she wants surgery. what's the difference between that and a nose job? nothing.

personally, i think cherry-brown could use some surgery herself-- her mouth sewn shut.

[rondivoo]

This has happened to others in a hospital setting. If I'm not mistaken, the wife of James Brown died after having liposuction.