Melissa Kerr: British woman’s death after ‘Brazilian butt lift’ in Turkey prompts coroner’s warning
A coroner is to write to the health secretary over concerns people are unaware of the risks of having cosmetic surgery overseas, after a British woman died following a ‘Brazilian butt lift’ procedure in Turkey.
Melissa Kerr travelled to the private Medicana Kadikoy hospital in Istanbul for the operation, during 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 procedure – 19 November last year.
Ms Kerr, who was “conscious about her appearance”, had breast enlargement surgery a decade earlier without complications.
But she was only given “limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate” associated with the Brazilian butt lift, an inquest heard.
Ms Kerr, from Denton, Norfolk, died after injected fat entered a vein before moving and blocking her pulmonary artery.
Her cause of death has been recorded as a pulmonary thromboembolism, Norfolk’s senior coroner, Jacqueline Lake, said.
Ms Lake now intends to write a report to Health Secretary Steve Barclay to outline concerns after telling the inquest there have been a “high number of patient deaths in similar circumstances”.
‘Future deaths can be prevented by better information’
“I am concerned patients are not being made aware of the risks or the mortality rate associated with such surgery,” she said.
“I do have concerns there will be future deaths and I’m of the view future deaths can be prevented by way of better information.”
Ms Kerr’s death happened four years after 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 travelled to a private clinic in the coastal city of Izmir for the operation after becoming paranoid about excess stomach weight gain, an inquest heard – despite being told by her partner she did not need surgery.
Leah Cambridge and her partner Scott Franks. Pic: Facebook
Patient underwent ‘limited assessment’ and did not see surgeon in advance
Ms Kerr arranged to pay £3,200 in cash for the procedure in a conversation with a hospital worker via WhatsApp.
She said she was “a bit nervous” before the operation and asked to see photographs of previous patients four times – but there is no evidence she was given them, the inquest heard.
Ms Kerr, a psychological wellbeing practitioner for the charity Mind, did not see a surgeon or clinician in advance and underwent a “limited assessment” prior to the procedure, Ms Lake said.
Consultant plastic surgeon, Simon Withey, who was asked to view evidence in the case and prepare a report as an expert witness during the inquest, said the death rate associated with Brazilian butt lifts is “likely to be in excess of one in 4,000”.
He said it is “quite possible” that, if the risks had been explained “before she was financially committed to proceed, she would not have done”.
Read more:
The cost of cheap plastic surgery abroad
Two thirds of cosmetic injections ‘not carried out by doctors’
Cosmetic surgery adverts targeting teenagers banned
Recording a narrative conclusion, Ms Lake said Ms Kerr died after cosmetic surgery.
“There has been the release of an international alert to surgeons regarding the high mortality rate associated with this procedure,” the coroner added.
“There has also been the introduction of a voluntary moratorium (suspension of activity) on this type of procedure in the UK.
“These are clearly not being followed in Turkey.
“I don’t have any authority over hospitals in Turkey and I also appreciate the UK government has no control (over) what happens in other countries.
“However the danger our citizens will continue to travel abroad for such procedures continues, though citizens are unaware of the risks involved.”
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Ms Lake offered her sympathies to Ms Kerr’s family, who listened to the inquest via videolink.
On a JustGiving fundraising page set up after the tragedy, Ms Kerr was described as a “pure and beautiful soul” who was “passionate about helping others”.
Martin Lewis says motorists who were mis-sold car finance are likely to receive “hundreds, not thousands of pounds” – with regulators launching a consultation on a new compensation scheme.
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com believes it is “very likely” that about 40% of Britons who entered personal contact purchase or hire purchase agreements between 2007 and 2021 will be eligible for payouts.
“Discretionary commission arrangements” saw brokers and dealers charge higher levels of interest so they could receive more commission, without telling consumers.
Pics: PA
Speaking to Sky News Radio’s Faye Rowlands, Lewis said: “Very rarely will it be thousands of pounds unless you have more than one car finance deal.
“So up to about a maximum of £950 per car finance deal where you are due compensation.”
Lewis explained that consumers who believe they may have been affected should check whether they had a discretionary commission arrangement by writing to their car finance company.
However, the personal finance guru warned against using a claims firm.
“They’re hardly going to do anything for you and you might get the money paid to you automatically anyway, in which case you’re giving them 30% for nothing,” he added.
Read more: How to tell if you’ve been mis-sold car finance
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Who’s eligible for payout after car finance scandal?
Yesterday, the Financial Conduct Authority said its review of the past use of motor finance “has shown that many firms were not complying with the law or our disclosure rules that were in force when they sold loans to consumers”.
The FCA’s statement added that those affected “should be appropriately compensated in an orderly, consistent and efficient way”.
Lewis told Sky News that the consultation will launch in October – and will take six weeks.
“We expect payouts to come in 2026, assuming this will happen and it’s very likely to happen,” he said.
“As for exactly how will work, it hasn’t decided yet. Firms will have to contact people, although there is an issue about them having destroyed some of the data for older claims.”
He believes claims will either be paid automatically – or affected consumers will need to opt in and apply to get compensation back.
Read more from Sky News:
Hamas ‘ready’ to deliver aid to hostages
Oasis ‘saddened’ after man dies at concert
The FCA estimates the cost of any scheme – including compensation and administrative costs – to be no lower than £9bn.
But in a video on X, Lewis said that millions of people are likely to be due a share of up to £18bn.
The regulator’s announcement comes after the Supreme Court ruled on a separate, but similar, case on Friday.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike