In recent months, investigations have uncovered a growing trend in which patients recovering from plastic surgery are sent to hotels for their post-operative care. This practice raises significant concerns regarding the quality of care and the safety of patients. Reports from Miami highlight the experiences of individuals who found themselves in these unconventional recovery settings.

Patient Experiences in Hotel Recovery Settings

Labresha Green, who traveled to Miami for a Brazilian butt lift and tummy tuck, shared her experience in a hotel recovery center after her surgery. She noted the prevalence of other patients in similar situations, stating, “In the hotel, there’s a lot of girls in there in different rooms, on different floors.”

Green discussed the financial burden associated with this required post-operative care, revealing that she paid around $200 per day for services that did not meet her expectations. “I can’t do anything but lay on my stomach like helpless when you can’t, like, pull your pants up or wash your body,” she explained.

Despite assurances of 24-hour care, Green experienced challenges when she sought basic medical support from her caregivers. “I was asking if she could take my blood pressure or if she had a thermometer or something and they said, ‘No,’” she recounted.

The Legal Landscape Surrounding Hotel-Based Recovery

The legality of utilizing hotels for recovery from plastic surgery is confirmed, yet the implications for patient safety are complex. Chris Russomanno, an attorney, highlighted troubling cases where patients faced significant medical issues, including a woman who developed life-threatening sepsis following her surgery. This patient had opted for a recovery package that promised around-the-clock care.

Russomanno stated, “She thinks this is the best care you can possibly get…but in reality, it’s just a constant turnover of different women coming in with open wounds, JP drains. It’s a dangerous situation in my eyes.”

Health Risks Associated with Hotel Recoveries

The risks associated with hotel-based recovery centers are significant. Patients often have limited medical support, raising concerns about infections and other complications. Chris Nuland, a lawyer for the Florida Association of Plastic Surgeons, expressed worries about the lack of oversight. “These patients are not fully healed… A hotel is no place for a patient who cannot take care of themselves,” he stated.

Green further illustrated the gap in care when she was discharged from the hotel under troubling conditions after questioning her caregivers. “She just left me basically naked in the bathroom,” she said, emphasizing the need for better regulation of post-operative care facilities.