A coroner will write to the Health Secretary after a British woman died after a “Brazilian butt lift” in Turkey.
Jacqueline Lake, the senior coroner in Norfolk, will tell Steve Barclay her concerns that people are not aware of the risks of cosmetic surgery abroad.
Melissa Kerr, 31, who was “conscious about her appearance”, traveled to a private hospital in Istanbul for the procedure, Ms Lake said.
But the mental health professional, from Denton, Norfolk, received only “limited information about the risks and mortality rate” associated with it.
Ms Kerr, who had breast augmentation surgery a decade earlier without complications, died at Medicana Kadikoy Hospital on the day of the surgery – where fat is harvested from elsewhere on the body and injected into the buttocks – on November 19, 2022.
She died after the injected fat entered a vein before moving and blocking her pulmonary artery, with her cause of death listed as pulmonary embolism, Ms Lake said.
Simon Withey, a consultant plastic surgeon, who was asked to see evidence in the case and prepare a report for Ms Kerr’s inquest as an expert, said the death rate associated with this type of surgery was “more than one in 4,000 likely”.
He added that it was “very likely” that if the risk of the procedure had been explained to Ms Kerr “before she made a financial commitment to go ahead, she would not have done it”.
The patient felt nervous before the operation
In a series of WhatsApp messages between Ms Kerr and a hospital worker before the Brit traveled to Turkey, Ms Kerr arranged to pay £3,200 in cash.
He asked four times to see photos of previous patients, but no evidence was provided.
Ms Kerr said in her messages that she was feeling “a bit nervous”.
Recording a narrative conclusion, Ms Lake said Ms Kerr died after cosmetic surgery.
The coroner said: “Ms Kerr did not see a surgeon or clinic prior to the date of the procedure.
“Ms Kerr was given limited information about the risks and mortality rate associated with this procedure.”
Ms Lake said “certain techniques” used “increased the risk of embolism”, including the “decision to inject fat into superficial muscle”.
He added: “There has been an international warning to surgeons about the high mortality rate associated with this procedure.
“There has also been the introduction of a voluntary moratorium on this type of procedure in the UK. These are apparently not followed in Turkey.
“I am concerned that patients are not being informed of the risks or mortality rate associated with such an operation.
“I have no authority over the hospitals in Turkey and I also appreciate that the UK government has no control [over] what happens in other countries.
“However, the risk of our citizens continuing to travel abroad for such procedures continues, although citizens are unaware of the risks involved.
Ms Lake offered her condolences to Ms Kerr’s relatives, who listened to the proceedings via video link.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said: “All cosmetic procedures carry risks which can affect people’s physical and emotional health and safety standards in other countries may not be as high as in the UK.
“We encourage anyone considering cosmetic surgery abroad to do their research on the standards and qualifications that apply in the country they are traveling to.
“They should ensure that adequate insurance arrangements are in place and that they have access to appropriate aftercare in the UK in the event of complications.
“Our condolences go out to the family of Melissa Kerr and we will look into the concerns raised in the coroner’s report.”
