The famous radio personality and DJ, Betty Pino, was dubbed the “Queen of Latin Radio” after spending over 30 years in the industry. She helped Latin music stars like Shakira gain popularity on the pop music scene and had one of the most recognizable voices on the radio. It was nothing short of a tragedy when Betty Pino died on August 7th, 2013. Recent autopsy reports confirm her death was related to complications after undergoing cosmetic surgery to remove silicone gluteal (butt) implants.
Betty Pino allegedly had multiple operations on her buttocks over the years. First, she received “hard” implants (material unspecified), then switched to saline, and finally silicone implants. While the surgeries were meant to create an attractive outcome, they weren’t without risks. Betty Pino had the silicone implants removed on June 14, 2013 by a plastic surgeon in Miami, Florida. She later had complications, suffering from sepsis, a serious bacterial infection, and ultimately went into a coma. While many of the details are still undisclosed to the public, the recent autopsy suggests the infection and coma were related to her most recent surgery.
Certainly, it is never a physician’s intent for complications to arise after surgery. Good plastic surgeons always educate patients on how to care for wounds following reconstructive or cosmetic surgery, and often prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infection (this is not to say that these precautions were not taken in Betty’s case; rather, this is common protocol in reputable practices). Follow-up visits are also imperative to ensure wounds are healing properly. Dr. Benjamin Stong, double board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon (who is not affiliated with Betty Pino’s case), stated, “It is a tragedy that the world lost such a notable person allegedly to surgical complications. At my practice, we take every possible precaution to prevent infections and complications. Our patients know that we are on call for them 24-7, and should an issue arise, I make it my top priority to see that the patient receives proper care and medical attention.” Without having the full autopsy report and surgery details, it is impossible to fully analyze all the factors about this case. If the surgery did lead to Betty Pino’s death, it is extremely unfortunate to know that the complications may have been avoidable.
When selecting a plastic surgeon, patients should always look for someone who is board certified and thoroughly experienced in their area of practice. While surgery is not fully without risks, patients should feel as though every measure is being taken to ensure their safety and a positive outcome.
