A police investigation into involuntary manslaughter is being opened after a Brazilian businesswoman died after undergoing six facial cosmetic procedures during surgery lasting almost a day, reports Healthandme.
Andreia Vieira Gaspar (51), from Goiânia, Brazil, who died on 12 August after a deep-plane facelift, forehead lift, chin reshaping, eyelid surgery, neck liposuction and a “nanofat” injection using her own body fat, had reportedly left the operating theatre heavily swollen and struggling to breathe. Her condition worsened overnight, with neck pain and increasing breathing difficulties.
She reportedly told her sister, Djiane Vieira: “Sis, I’m dying.” Her sister then sought help from the medical team through a group chat, asking for immediate assistance.
The family has now questioned whether Ankar Hospital was equipped to handle a serious postoperative emergency, and also alleged it did not have an intensive care unit or an ambulance available.
Her condition had deteriorated about six hours after the surgery and she died despite resuscitation attempts. A medical report identified acute thrombosis and pulmonary infarction as the causes of death.
Mother-of-three Gaspar, who had previously run a beauty salon in Goiânia but had lived in Spain for five years, had spent two years saving for the six-in-one surgery, which cost about £16 800.
The surgeon, Dr Lessandro Martins, told Daily Star he was deeply saddened by her death and sympathises with the pain of her family. He said he was confident “the investigation will demonstrate that the care provided was appropriate”.
Lawyer Cristiene Pereira Couto, who represents Ankar Hospital, said: “The patient received immediate emergency treatment, with medical and nursing staff providing care and taking the necessary measures in response to her condition.
“Her pre-operative assessment and tests were carried out externally before she was admitted to Ankar Hospital for the surgery. Once the emergency occurred, she was promptly attended to by the staff present, who used the necessary hospital facilities and carried out the appropriate emergency measures.”
The hospital said that all of its records would be made available to investigators.
Brazil does not publish a definitive annual tally of cosmetic-surgery deaths, but medical studies put the fatality rate for liposuction at around one in 10 000, rising when it is combined with other major procedures, with blood clots being considered the principal cause of death.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
US woman dies after 10-hour plastic surgery goes wrong
Celebrity Brazilian plastic surgeon on the run after woman’s death