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Cosmetic procedures have become increasingly popular among celebrities, influencers, models and other public figures seeking to alter or enhance their appearance.
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While many procedures are performed safely, some have resulted in severe complications, including blood clots, fat embolisms, cardiac arrest and other life-threatening conditions.
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The deaths of several high-profile figures have raised concerns about unlicensed practitioners, inadequate medical care, poor aftercare and the risks of travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery.
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From Brazilian Butt Lifts and breast enlargement to liposuction and injectable fillers, these cases highlight the serious risks that can accompany cosmetic procedures.
September 08, (THEWILL) — Cosmetic procedures have become increasingly popular among celebrities, influencers, models and other public figures seeking to change or enhance their appearance. While many procedures are completed safely, they can also lead to serious complications, including blood clots, fat embolisms and cardiac problems.
Over the years, several high-profile figures have died during or after procedures such as Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs), breast enlargement, liposuction and injectable treatments. Their deaths have raised concerns about medical care, qualified practitioners, informed consent and the risks of undergoing cosmetic procedures outside regulated facilities.
Some of the cases involved procedures performed abroad or by unlicensed practitioners, drawing attention to the dangers of cosmetic surgery tourism and inadequate aftercare.
Here are 10 public figures whose deaths were linked to cosmetic procedures.
1. Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo
British-Nigerian businessman and lifestyle influencer, Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo, died in Bangkok, Thailand, after undergoing a penile enhancement procedure.
Ubiribo received injections containing hyaluronic acid and lidocaine on March 5, 2026, while on holiday in Bangkok with his wife. He later developed severe chest pain and lost consciousness. Medical workers attempted to revive him for more than 100 minutes, but he died in the early hours of March 6.
A subsequent UK coroner’s inquest found that Ubiribo died from a pulmonary embolism caused by the cosmetic filler. A post-mortem examination also found material consistent with the injected hyaluronic acid in his lungs.
His death, details of which emerged in September 2026, has drawn fresh attention to the risks associated with cosmetic filler procedures and the need for proper medical oversight.
2. Jacky Oh!
Former Wild ’N Out star, Jacklyn “Jacky Oh!” Smith, died in Miami following complications from cosmetic surgery.
The 32-year-old had travelled to Miami for a gluteal augmentation procedure involving liposuction and fat transfer to the buttocks. She was found unresponsive in a hotel room on May 31, 2023, and was taken to hospital.
An autopsy later determined that she died from complications related to the cosmetic procedure, and her death was ruled accidental. The case renewed attention on the risks associated with BBL procedures, which involve transferring fat from one part of the body to another.
Jacky Oh! was known for her appearances on Wild ’N Out and was the long-time partner of comedian, DC Young Fly.
3. Christina Ashten Gourkani
Christina Ashten Gourkani, a model and OnlyFans creator known for her resemblance to Kim Kardashian, died after receiving cosmetic injections.
The 34-year-old reportedly underwent a procedure involving buttock injections in California. She became seriously ill afterwards and suffered cardiac arrest.
An autopsy found that Gourkani died from an embolism and poisoning. Authorities subsequently investigated the person accused of administering the injections, with the case highlighting the dangers of unapproved cosmetic injections and unlicensed practitioners.
The US Food and Drug Administration has warned that injectable silicone can travel through blood vessels and cause blockages that may result in stroke or death.
4. Demi Agoglia
British mother-of-three Demi Agoglia died in Istanbul, Turkey, three days after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift.
Agoglia became seriously ill after the procedure and was taken to hospital following a medical emergency. An inquest later found that she died from a microscopic fat embolism, in which fat enters the bloodstream and can block blood vessels.
Bolton Coroner John Pollard concluded that her death resulted from misadventure contributed to by neglect. He also criticised the care she received, citing a lack of proper informed consent, pre-operative advice and post-operative care. S Sky News+1
Her case became another major warning about the risks associated with travelling abroad for BBL procedures and the importance of adequate medical monitoring before and after surgery.
5. Melissa Kerr
Melissa Kerr travelled from the UK to Istanbul, Turkey, for cosmetic surgery involving her thighs and buttocks.
She underwent liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift on November 19, 2019, but became seriously ill during the procedure and later died.
A UK inquest found that Kerr died from pulmonary thromboembolism and fat embolism linked to elective cosmetic surgery. The investigation also found that she had not been seen by a surgeon or clinician before the day of the procedures and had received limited information about the risks and mortality associated with the surgery.
The case led to wider concerns about the risks of cosmetic surgery tourism and the standards of care provided to patients travelling abroad.
6. Sexy Cora
German entertainer and reality television personality, Sexy Cora, born Carolin Berger, died after complications from breast enlargement surgery in Hamburg.
The 23-year-old suffered cardiac arrest during the procedure on January 11, 2011. She was placed in an induced coma after suffering severe brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation.
She died nine days later, on January 20. The operation was reportedly her sixth breast enlargement procedure. German authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding her treatment, and doctors involved in the procedure were later charged with negligent manslaughter.
Her death became one of the most widely reported cosmetic surgery cases in Germany and prompted questions about surgical monitoring and patient safety.
7. Claudia Aderotimi
British dancer and aspiring performer, Claudia Aderotimi, died after receiving illegal buttock injections in Philadelphia, United States.
The 20-year-old had travelled from London for the procedure, which was carried out at a hotel rather than a medical facility. She developed chest pain and breathing difficulties afterwards and was rushed to hospital.
A later medical examination found silicone in her blood and organs. Aderotimi died from a pulmonary embolism caused by the injections, according to evidence presented in the subsequent criminal case.
Her death led to a police investigation and highlighted the dangers of receiving cosmetic injections from unlicensed practitioners outside a proper medical setting.
8. Solange Magnano
Former Miss Argentina, Solange Magnano, died after undergoing a cosmetic procedure on her buttocks in Buenos Aires.
Magnano, who won the Miss Argentina title in 1994, developed serious complications after the procedure and suffered a pulmonary embolism. She died on November 29, 2009, shortly before her 38th birthday.
Reports at the time said she had received injections containing polymethylmethacrylate, a substance used as a filler. The material was linked to the embolism that led to her death.
Magnano was married and had twin children. Her death drew attention to the risks associated with injectable cosmetic treatments.
9. Catherine Cando
Ecuadorian beauty queen Catherine Cando died at the age of 19 after undergoing liposuction in Guayaquil.
Cando had won the Queen of Durán pageant in 2014, with a cosmetic procedure among the prizes associated with the competition. She eventually underwent liposuction and lipo-sculpture but developed serious complications during the procedure.
Her death certificate listed cerebral oedema, or swelling of the brain, as the cause of death. The case prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the operation and raised questions about the safety of cosmetic procedures offered as pageant prizes. W Wikipedia
10. Ana Bárbara Buhr Buldrini
Brazilian singer, model and influencer Ana Bárbara Buhr Buldrini died in Istanbul, Turkey, after undergoing multiple cosmetic procedures.
The 31-year-old travelled to Turkey with her husband and underwent procedures including liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. She developed severe complications after the surgery and died on June 15, 2025.
Turkish authorities launched an investigation into her death. Officials said the precise medical cause would be established through an autopsy, so reports about the exact circumstances have been treated with caution.
Buldrini had a large social media following and was known for her music, fashion and lifestyle content. Her death renewed concerns about the safety of medical tourism and the risks of undergoing multiple procedures at once.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
