Commentary on: Report on Mortality from Gluteal Fat Grafting: Recommendations from the ASERF Task Force.

Surgery poses risks; the larger the surgery, the larger the risks. A British Medical Journal study showed that for the 5 higher risk major surgical procedures, the 30 day mortality rate was 3.6% for excision of the esophagus or stomach, 2.4% for excision of the colon or rectum, 2% for coronary artery bypass graft, 3.5% for repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and 2.1% for excision of a lung. 1 For the com-bined group of low-risk surgical procedures, the 30 day mortality rate was 0.2% (2/1000 patients). These risks have decreased over time, and patients generally understand them. Mortality rates for some of these procedures are publicly reported. Patients understand that larger, more complex procedures, often to treat life threat-ening diseases such as cancer or coronary artery disease, entail risks. On the contrary, patients expect to live when having small procedures, especially those performed for cosmetic reasons. And, they generally can count on it. a mortality rate of 1:55,000 procedures; not six sigma performance.