A British mother-of-three has tragically died just days after getting a Brazilian bum-lift operation in Turkey.
Demi Agoglia, 26, is thought to have suffered cardiac arrests after returning to the clinic in Istanbul for a check-up following the surgery.
Relatives told The Sun newspaper she was pronounced dead in hospital on Monday after going into cardiac arrest in the taxi on the way to the hospital, with her partner Bradley Jones desperately giving her CPR.
Ms Agoglia, from Salford, Greater Manchester, is thought to have suffered heart attacks caused by a fat embolism after going under the knife last Thursday (4 January).
Her brother Carl, 37, urged others thinking of doing the same not to do so and told the paper: “It is tragic what happened. We are just in shock. If anyone is thinking of flying to Turkey for an operation I would say don't do it! Even her boyfriend didn't want her to do it.
“But she is 26 and has her own mind. Her mum didn't want her to go out either.”
He added: “She is only 26, she shouldn't have die. Just don't do it, it's such a high risk. She should never have done it. She has left three young kids."
The tragic news is the latest in a line of deaths after having surgery abroad. In November, the UK government representatives vowed to meet with officials in Turkey to discuss regulations around medical and cosmetic tourism following several citizens' deaths abroad.
Melissa Kerr, 31, died at the private Medicana Haznedar Hospital in Istanbul in 2019 during a buttock enlargement (Brazilian butt-lift) surgery. In September, an inquest heard Ms Kerr, from Gorleston, Norfolk, suffered a fatal clot that had travelled to her lungs during the Brazilian butt-lift surgery (BBL). The inquest was told BBL operations carried the highest risk of all cosmetic surgery procedures.
The BBC previously reported how seven British patients died after weight loss surgery in Turkey.
What is a Brazilian Bum Lift?
The surgery is typically undertaken by people who want a more rounded behind.
The procedure involves using the patient's own fat tissue to augment the buttock region.
A Brazilian Bum Lift is normally done in two steps. The procedure starts with liposuction of a different area, often the abdomen, the thighs or back, where there is a higher percentage of fat. Afterwards, that same fat is injected into the hips and buttocks to improve shape and size.
Why is a Brazilian Bum Lift so dangerous?
Plastic surgeons say the procedure has a higher risk of complications, compared to other surgeries, because of the location of the source of fat.
The risk of death from a BBL is at least 10 times higher than many other procedures, say the NHS.
The President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Peter Rubin, said: "A Brazilian Bum Lift (BBL) uses a technique known as autologous fat transfer or fat grafting, which is a consistently safe procedure.
"But the risk of a BBL is specific to the anatomical region where the fat is injected. As fat is transferred to the buttock, that's when surgeons are getting into anatomic danger zones where there are a lot of blood vessels and it is very easy to have fat enter the bloodstream and literally clog major blood vessels."
How much is a Brazilian Bum lift in the UK compared to places like Turkey?
Experts say that in the UK on average it can cost between £6,250 and £7,000 or sometimes more if more liposuction is needed to get the desired results.
In Turkey, this cost can be as low as £1,500 to £2,000 which is why many opt to go abroad. But in the UK, there are strict guidelines about who is suitable for the surgery in the first place, as well as strict aftercare instructions to avoid complications and infections. The UK is thoroughly regulated when it comes to cosmetic surgery and, in particular, Brazilian Bum Lifts.
Revised guidelines from the British Association of Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) now state that the injections should not go very deep. According to the surgeons, this should help avoid complications, like life-threatening clots.
