Joan Rivers feared she would die during plastic surgery.

The 81-year-old comedienne - who passed away last night (04.09.14) after being put into an induced coma last week after she suffered a cardiac arrest during a routine operation on her vocal cords - admitted in the past that she thought her love of cosmetic procedures would be the death of her.

According to The Sun newspaper, she said in a previously unpublished chat: ''I want more surgery immediately but I think I will probably wait a year because often at this age they put you down and you don't come back - they make you cross your arms just in case!

''It's always a concern that I'm not going to come out of it but it's more important to me to get the work done than my own mortality because I've had a terrific life.''

The 'Fashion Police' host - who joked that she'd gone under the knife 700 times - also revealed her desire to remain looking young for television audiences.

She said: ''I think it will be fabulous to die on the operation table because the publicity would keep the 'Fashion Police' re-runs going for years. Plus no one will say, 'How old?'

''Nobody wants to see an old face because it reminds you of your own mortality. I believe in plastic surgery to make the viewer feel better.''

Joan's daughter Melissa has paid tribute to her mother, saying: ''My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh.

''Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.''