Melissa Kerr said she felt ‘a bit nervous’ before the procedure (Picture: East Anglia News)
A British woman who died after a cosmetic procedure in Turkey may not have been made aware of the risks associated with the surgery, a coroner has heard.
Melissa Kerr, 31 and from Denton in Norfolk, died at the Medicana Kadikoy hospital in Istanbul on November 19 of last year – the day she went under the knife to receive a ‘Brazilian butt lift’.
An inquest into her death was held today and Norfolk’s senior coroner Jackeline Lake was told Melissa was only given ‘limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate’ of the surgery.
The psychological wellbeing practitioner died after injected fat entered a vein before moving and blocking her pulmonary artery, with her cause of death recorded as a pulmonary thromboembolism, Ms Lake said.
Consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey, who appeared at the inquest as an expert witness, 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 risk of the procedure had been explained to Melissa ‘before she was financially committed to proceed, she would not have done’.
In a string of WhatsApp messages between Melissa and a hospital worker before travelling to Turkey, she arranged to pay £3,200 in cash.
She asked four times to see photographs of previous patients but there is no evidence they were provided.
Melissa said in her messages she felt ‘a bit nervous’.
Melissa died on the day of her operation (Picture: East Anglia News)
She hadn’t been seen by a surgeon or clinician before the procedure date (Picture: East Anglia News)
Recording a narrative conclusion, Ms Lake said Melissa died after cosmetic surgery.
The coroner said: ‘Ms Kerr wasn’t seen by a surgeon or clinician prior to the date of the procedure.
‘Ms Kerr underwent a limited assessment prior to the procedures.
‘Ms Kerr was provided with limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate associated with this procedure.’
Ms Lake said ‘certain techniques’ used ‘increased the risk of embolism occurring’, including a ‘decision to inject fat into superficial muscle’.
She said there have been a ‘high number of patient deaths in similar circumstances, adding: ‘There has been the release of an international alert to surgeons regarding the high mortality rate associated with this procedure.
‘There has also been the introduction of a voluntary moratorium on this type of procedure in the UK.
‘These are clearly not being followed in Turkey.
‘I’m concerned patients are not being made aware of the risks or the mortality rate associated with such surgery.
‘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.
‘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.
‘I do propose making a report to the Secretary for Health, who I believe could take action to prevent future deaths.’
Ms Lake will write to Health Secretary Steve Barclay outlining her concerns that Brits are unaware of the risks of having cosmetic surgery overseas.
She offered her condolences to Melissa’s relatives, who were listening to the inquest remotely.
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