Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - Another defeat for "Dr. Po": A Düsseldorf cosmetic surgeon has to pay almost 30,000 euros to the survivors of a patient. The district court decided on Monday (Az.: 3 O 97/22). The doctor had promised to pay 20,000 euros in damages and reimbursement of 9,500 euros for surgery costs in the criminal proceedings against him, but then did not pay.
Two women had died after buttock augmentations that the doctor had carried out and which he had advertised on social media channels. The doctor was sentenced to three years and four months in prison and a four-year professional ban for assault resulting in death.
The 50-year-old's reasoning that he wanted to wait until his criminal judgment became final with the payment did not go down well with the judge on Monday. Such services are always to be paid for directly, unless otherwise agreed. The Federal Court of Justice still has to decide on the appeal against the sentence.
Two patients, aged 20 and 42, died shortly after the operation in 2018 and 2019. The district court ruled a year ago that the patients should be "ruthlessly informed" about the risks of such operations. However, no such clarification took place.
In addition, the surgeon removed far more than the recommended amount of fluid and body fat from the women and injected the fat again.
The desire for a luscious buttocks is making the cash registers ring for cosmetic surgeons all over the world. The so-called "Brazilian Butt Lift" is particularly popular. With this method, the body's own fat is sucked out from the abdomen or thighs and injected into the buttocks.
However, the method is seen as critical by many plastic surgeons because of the risk involved. The death rate is put at 1:3000: If the tiny lumps of fat get into the bloodstream, there is a risk of a fatal embolism.
