The family of a ‘beautiful’ young mother who died after a ‘frankly barbaric’ botched Brazilian butt lift operation in a Turkish clinic Tuesday begged women not to risk their lives for the sake of a more shapely bottom.
Demi Agoglia, from Salford, Greater Manchester, flew to Istanbul in January with her partner Bradley Jones after spotting a celebrity-endorsed advert on social media offering cut-price cosmetic plastic surgery.
But tragically the 26-year-old – the mother of three children, the youngest a seven-month-old baby – died in hospital three days after operation from a suspected microscopic fat embolism, where injected fat leaks into the bloodstream.
After hearing from an expert witness in the inquest that Ms Agoglia’s tragic death could amount to ‘manslaughter’, a coroner today said he would be writing to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take measures to stop young women travelling to Turkey for such procedures.
‘I feel that something needs to be done to stop this frankly barbaric medical practice being conducted to such low standards which would not be tolerated within the United Kingdom,’ John Pollard told Ms Agoglia’s family at Bolton Coroner’s Court.
At least another three British women have died after travelling to Turkey for a Brazilian butt lift in the past six years, frequently paying around one-third of the £10,000 cost of having the procedure in the UK.
Just last month Mr Streeting warned women to ‘think very carefully’ before flying overseas for such procedures, leaving the NHS to ‘pick up the pieces’ of botched cosmetic surgery.
After the hearing, Ms Agoglia’s sister Chloe, 23, said: ‘I think there should be some sort of law stopping people going to Turkey for these operations. I would not recommend anyone going to Turkey for surgery.’
Earlier Ms Agoglia’s partner Mr Jones, a landscaper, told the hearing she had found an advert for Comfort Zone Surgery on social media.
He said: ‘I did not want her to go. I didn’t want to go with her.’
Mr Jones said they were housed in a villa next to the hospital, with surgery performed on January 5.
Two days before she died she complained of tightness in her chest, and the following day she collapsed and was taken to hospital in a taxi.
