Mom dies after getting ‘Brazilian butt lift’ at Fla. plastic surgery clinic

A West Virginia mother of two died last week after undergoing cosmetic surgery to enhance her butt at a clinic in Hialeah, Fla.

Heather Meadows, 29, was undergoing a “Brazilian butt lift” on May 12, when fat particles clogged arteries in her lungs and heart, according to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner, The Miami Herald reported. Meadows was rushed from Encore Plastic Surgery to the hospital, where she later died.

The Brazilian butt lift procedure involves using liposuction to gather fat from the torso and redistributing the fat to the buttocks region by injection.

According to the medical examiner’s office, complications from a lipid transfer also contributed to her death, the Herald reported. The fat particles that led Meadows organs to shut down and ultimately killed her, likely entered her bloodstream through a vein during the fat transfer procedure, the Herald reported.

Jamin V. Brahmbhatt, a surgeon at Orlando Health, notes that many people come to Florida specifically for plastic surgery, and it's vital that potential patients thoroughly research surgeons and their facilities before going under the knife.

"You have to trust your doctor, trust your instinct, educate yourself and plan, plan and plan," Brahmbhatt said. "For a patient the most important thing is doing your research, asking your doctor questions and it's ok to get a second opinion."

He notes that when it comes to plastic surgery, people should follow American Society of Plastic Surgeon guidelines on finding a surgeon and remember that if something seems "too good to be true," it probably is.

In the past, two physicians who worked at Encore Plastic Surgery and two affiliated clinics were charged with medical malpractice, WFOR-TV reported. It’s not clear who performed the procedure on Meadows, according to the station.

The Florida Department of Health is investigating the incident, AP reported.

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