Keratopigmentation changes the color of the eye by injecting pigment into the cornea.
In the United States, most people opt for cosmetic procedures, which have seen a rapid increase in recent years. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there is a 5% increase in surgeries every year.
Doctors say that while all surgeries carry risks, there is a whopping 92 percent chance of life-threatening complications. Eye color-changing surgery, which includes colored iris implants, laser pigment removal and keratopigmentation, tops the list of the 10 most dangerous cosmetic surgeries in the United States.
How is eye color change surgery performed?
Keratopigmentation, also known as corneal tattooing or eye tattooing, is a surgical procedure that changes the color of the eye by injecting pigment into the cornea. In addition to cosmetic reasons, it is sometimes also performed for therapeutic reasons, such as to improve the appearance of eyes damaged by disease, injury, or irregularities in the shape of the cornea.
Although keratopigmentation has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, experts say young people are flocking to clinics for the procedure. With a recovery time ranging from one to eight weeks and an average cost of $12,000, it is now the most popular cosmetic surgery nationwide.
How is keratopigmentation performed?
According to experts, the procedure is performed with an off-label corneal refractive laser and uses a mineral-based pigment that is inert when inserted into the translucent cornea via a cannula. The New York Post reported that a French company that trains ophthalmologists to perform keratopigmentation had shared footage of a woman who changed her brown eyes to a deep, vibrant blue in a clip that garnered nearly 30 million views on tiktok.
However, experts warn against this procedure as it can permanently change the cornea from clear to opaque. Some other complications include:
- Blindness
- Damage to the cornea can cause opacity, deformation, fluid leakage, and vision loss.
- Reaction to dye
- It causes inflammation, uveitis, or growth of blood vessels in the cornea.
- Infection
The procedure also causes sensitivity to light and bacterial or fungal infections that can spread throughout, causing pain, swelling, blurred vision and even permanent vision loss.
Dr. Colin McCannel, a professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of California, Los Angeles, told Healthline that it is a “bad idea” to undergo “any unnecessary eye surgery” because of the risk of complications.
What are other dangerous cosmetic procedures?
Second on the list of most popular cosmetic surgeries is the thigh lift, with a nearly 80 percent risk of complications, including infections, blood clots and even death. Also known as thighplasty, it helps improve the contours and tone of the thighs and works by removing excess fat and sagging skin. However, according to experts, it can lead to deep vein thrombosis and edema.
Next comes the very popular Brazilian butt lift, where a plastic surgeon removes fat deposits from other parts of the body and inserts them into the areas around the buttocks. After recovery, you will see that the buttocks will be larger, more protruding and have a uniform shape.
However, it carries a nearly 40 percent risk of injury, fat embolism and even death.
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