A coroner is to write to the health secretary over concerns people are unaware of the risks of cosmetic surgery abroad after a British woman died after a “Brazilian butt lift” procedure in Turkey.
Melissa Kerr traveled to the private Medicana Kadikoy hospital in Istanbul for the operation, in which fat is harvested from other parts of the body and injected into the buttocks.
The 31-year-old died on the day she had the operation – November 19 last year.
Ms Kerr, who was “conscious about her appearance”, had undergone breast enlargement surgery a decade earlier without complications.
But she was given only “limited information about the risks and mortality rate” associated with a butt lift in Brazil, an inquest heard.
Mrs Kerr, from Denton, Norfolk, died after injected fat entered a vein before traveling and blocking her pulmonary artery.
Her cause of death has been listed as pulmonary embolism, Norfolk Senior Coroner Jacqueline Lake said.
Ms Lake now intends to write a report to the Minister for Health Steve Barkley to outline concerns after the inquiry was informed there had been “a high number of patient deaths in similar circumstances”.
“Future deaths can be prevented with better information”
“I am concerned that patients are not being informed of the risks or the mortality rate associated with such an operation,” he said.
“I have concerns that there will be future deaths and I am of the opinion that future deaths can be prevented through better information.”
Mrs Kerr’s death came four years after the mother of three Leah Cambridge died due to a fat clot caused by a Brazilian butt lift in Turkey in 2018.
The 29-year-old from Leeds traveled to a private clinic in the seaside town of Izmir for the operation after becoming paranoid about excessive stomach weight gain, an inquest heard – despite as her partner said she didn’t need surgery.
The patient underwent a “limited evaluation” and did not see the surgeon beforehand
Ms Kerr arranged to pay £3,200 in cash for the procedure in a WhatsApp chat with a hospital worker.
She said she was “a bit nervous” before the operation and asked to see pictures of previous patients four times – but no evidence was given to her, the inquest heard.
Ms Kerr, a psychological wellbeing professional for the charity Mind, did not see a surgeon or clinician beforehand and had “limited assessment” before the procedure, Ms Lake said.
Consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey, who was called to see evidence in the case and prepare an expert report during the inquest, said the mortality rate associated with Brazilian butt lifts is “likely to exceed one in 4,000”.
He said it was “very likely” that if the risks had been explained “before he made a financial commitment to go ahead, he would not have done so”.
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Recording a narrative conclusion, Ms Lake said Ms Kerr died after cosmetic surgery.
“There has been an international warning to surgeons about the high mortality rate associated with this procedure,” the coroner added.
“There has also been the introduction of a voluntary moratorium (suspension of activity) of this type of procedure in the UK.
“These are obviously not followed in Turkey.
“I have no authority over hospitals in Turkey and I also appreciate that the UK government has no control (over) what happens in other countries.
“Yet the risk of our citizens continuing to travel abroad for such procedures continues, although citizens are unaware of the risks involved.”
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Ms Lake offered her condolences to Kerr’s family, who listened to the inquest via video link.
On a JustGiving fundraising page set up after the tragedy, Ms Kerr was described as a “pure and beautiful soul” who “had a passion for helping others”.
