Paula Andrea Beltrán Sandoval went into cardiorespiratory arrest 70 minutes into the procedure, for which she had paid more than £8,000 in Medellín, Colombia
A nursing assistant died on the operating table at a shopping centre clinic as she was undergoing a procedure to have toxic fillers removed from her buttocks.
Paula Andrea Beltrán Sandoval, 41, suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest about 70 minutes into the procedure. Despite advanced resuscitation attempts, which included electric shocks, for more than 40 minutes, Ms Sandoval was pronounced dead inside the operating theatre.
The 41-year-old travelled from New York, where she lived and worked, to Medellín in Colombia, where she was originally from. She decided to get the removal procedure after developing health problems linked to her original biopolymers.
Biopolymer injections for cosmetic purposes are banned under Colombian law. They’re also not approved for cosmetic improvements in the UK due to the severe risks they carry, including necrosis, migration and sepsis.
Ms Sandoval, who reportedly had no known pre-existing medical conditions, had her surgery done at a clinic inside the El Tesoro shopping centre in Medellín on June 18. The operation cost 38,000,000 Colombian Pesos, which is the equivalent of about £8,335.
An investigation has now been launched into Ms Sandoval’s death, with health authorities reviewing the clinic’s records, operating licences and staff qualifications.
Forensic specialists at the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences will conduct a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
The case remains under active investigation pending the results of the post-mortem.
