Menu

Iconic Rapper Faced ‘Certain Death’ During Open Heart Surgery

Table of Contents

Rapper and hip-hop icon Scarface has been very open and candid about his health journey these past few years. From his deathly battle with COVID to his much-needed kidney transplant, made possible by his son, Chris Jordan, giving him a transplant in 2021.

When remembering his life-saving transplant, he got emotional.

“I’m so proud of you [he said looking at Chris],” Scarface posted. “I love you too much. You saved my m*thaf*ckin’ life. You low down m*thaf*cka. You’re selfish. Won’t let a n-gga die. That n-gga will not let me die [laughs]. I ain’t gonna tear up in here in front of all these people on Instagram Live.”

Featured on BlackDoctor

The most recent health issue ‘Face underwent was open-heart surgery just a few weeks ago. But he is assuring fans that he was doing fine just in time for the 2025 Grandmaster Awards in Las Vegas.

He posted a picture of himself on Instagram, smiling ear to ear as he made his way to the stage, with a caption that reads, “6wks ago I underwent open heart surgery, to be upright and smiling today shows you that God aint nothing to play with… and again I say, I’m grateful, it could’ve went either way, yet I’m still alive…”

In an Instagram post on Tuesday (October 8), the Geto Boys legend shared that he went into the hospital this past summer for scheduled surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm and a “leaky valve,” but “something crazy happened” when doctors opened him up.

Alongside a photo of him and his surgeon, Dr. Andrea Quarti, he wrote: “This is the man, one of the most sought after surgeons in the world, when I was told, ‘this Dr. is hard to get’ he’s one of the best if not THE BEST.

“When I woke up to have a scheduled aortic aneurysm and leaky valve repaired something crazy happened, when he got me cut open, my aneurysm had torn the entire circumference of my aorta (certain death).”

Fortunately for Face Mob, the near-fatal discovery was handled correctly by the surgical talents of Dr. Quarti.

What Condition/Disease Did Scarface Have?

An aortic aneurysm is a bulge that occurs in the wall of the body’s main artery, called the aorta. The aorta carries blood from the heart to the body. Aortic aneurysms can occur anywhere in the aorta. They may be tube-shaped or round.

Aortic aneurysms include two types:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs along the part of the aorta that passes through the belly area.
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm. A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs along the part of the aorta that passes through the chest cavity.

Some people may have both types of aortic aneurysms. Having an aortic aneurysm increases the risk of developing a tear in the inner layer of the wall of the aorta. This tear is called an aortic dissection.

Risk Factors You Should Be Aware Of

Both your family history and your lifestyle can play a role in your risk of developing an aortic aneurysm. Aortic aneurysms occur most often in people who:

  • If you’re a smoker
  • Are over age 65
  • Were assigned male at birth
  • Have a family history of aortic aneurysms
  • Have high blood pressure (hypertension)

What Causes This Condition?

The causes of an aortic aneurysm are often unknown, but can include:

  • Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)
  • Inflammation of the arteries
  • Inherited conditions, especially those that affect connective tissue (such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome)
  • Injury to an aorta
  • Infections, such as syphilis
(Scarface and his surgeon / Photo credit: Instagram)

Symptoms You Should Look For

In many cases, people don’t know they have an aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm often doesn’t cause any symptoms until it ruptures (bursts).

If an aneurysm ruptures, it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Call 911 if you or someone you are with has a ruptured aneurysm.

Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm come on suddenly and can include:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Sudden, severe chest pain, abdominal pain or back pain

Finding an aortic aneurysm before it ruptures offers your best chance of recovery. As an aortic aneurysm grows, you might notice symptoms including:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Feeling full even after a small meal
  • Pain wherever the aneurysm is growing (could be in your neck, back, chest or abdomen)
  • Painful or difficult swallowing
  • Swelling of your arms, neck or face

When remembering this most recent surgery, Scarface once again–and rightfully so–gets emotional in an Instagram post.

“…No surprise to him (referring to his doctor, Dr. Quarti), I woke 24hrs+ later,” the rapper continued, “and I asked him, why me doc, out of all the people you could’ve worked on?”

“He looked up to the heavens and he did this [one finger in the air emoji] wow, and again I say I’m grateful.”

SHARE
Related Stories
Answer the question below

Gout Survey

People with gout often have sudden, painful flares of joint swelling and redness. How many gout flares have you experienced in the last 12 months?
Have you ever received intravenous medicine for your gout?

Get our Weekly Newsletter

Stay informed on the latest breakthroughs in family health and wellness. Sign up today!

By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.

More from BlackDoctor

Where Culture Meets Care

BlackDoctor is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically for the Black community. BlackDoctor understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BlackDoctor gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.
✦ AI Search Disclaimer
This AI-powered search tool helps you find relevant health articles from the BlackDoctor.org archive. Please keep the following in mind:
✦ For Informational Purposes Only
The information provided through this AI search is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
✦ Always Consult a Healthcare Provider
Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read through this search tool. If you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
✦ AI Limitations
This search tool uses artificial intelligence to help match your queries with articles in our archive. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated results may occasionally be incomplete, outdated, or not fully relevant to your specific situation.
✦ No Doctor-Patient Relationship
Using this search tool does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and BlackDoctor.org or any healthcare provider.
Explore over 35,000 articles and videos across black health, wellness, lifestyle and culture
Full AI Search Experience >
×

Download PDF

Enter your name and email to receive the download link.

BlackDoctor AI Search