Tragic Loss During Cosmetic Procedure: British Woman Dies in Turkish Hospital
A British woman, Melissa Kerr, expressed her nervousness to a hospital worker before her untimely demise during a Brazilian bum lift operation in Turkey, an inquest has revealed. The 31-year-old had traveled from her home in Norfolk to Istanbul to undergo the £3,200 procedure at Medicana Kadikoy Hospital. This surgical procedure involves reshaping the buttocks by transferring fat from areas like the stomach and back.
Melissa tragically lost her life when injected fat entered a vein, leading to a blocked pulmonary artery, ultimately causing an embolism. During the inquest, it was disclosed that Melissa was provided with only limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate associated with the procedure back in November 2020.
Consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey informed the hearing that the death rate linked to Brazilian butt lifts is “likely to be in excess of one in 4,000.” He also mentioned that Melissa might have reconsidered the procedure had she been aware of the risks before committing financially.
Before her journey to Turkey, Melissa Kerr sent several WhatsApp messages to a hospital worker, asking four times for photos of previous patients. Allegedly, these photos were never forwarded to her. Melissa, who was conscious about her appearance, also expressed feeling a “bit nervous” in her messages.
In a narrative verdict, Norfolk Coroner’s Court confirmed that Melissa died following cosmetic surgery. The coroner noted, “Ms. Kerr wasn’t seen by a surgeon or clinician prior to the date of the procedure. Ms. Kerr underwent a limited assessment prior to the procedures. Ms. Kerr was provided with limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate associated with this procedure.”
The coroner further stated her intention to write to the Health Secretary Steve Barclay about overseas surgeries in an effort to “prevent future deaths.”
Melissa’s partner, Skye Birch, paid tribute to her on Valentine’s Day, expressing the void left by her absence and their unfulfilled plans. Melissa worked as a psychological wellbeing practitioner at the mental health charity Mind, according to a JustGiving page.
Melissa’s heartbroken twin sister, Natasha, remembered her as an animal lover and someone who was “passionate about changing the world one step at a time.” She conveyed the deep pain and emptiness felt by her family due to the loss of a “pure and beautiful soul inside and out.”
The Brazilian butt lift, a controversial cosmetic procedure that transfers fat from the waist or stomach to the buttocks, typically takes one to two hours. It involves using a tiny cannula to extract and purify fat before re-injecting it into the buttocks. Regrettably, this procedure is known to have the highest death rate among all cosmetic surgeries.