Kaydell Brown, a 38-year-old mother of two from Sheffield, England, died following a BBL, tummy tuck, and breast augmentation at a clinic in Istanbul, Turkey. Her family also claimed that her vital organs, including her heart, brain and kidneys, were removed before Brown’s body was returned.
The surgeries, which cost her £5,400, equal to $7,121.14, were intended to transform her life.
Brown’s sister, Leanne, who was also scheduled to undergo a BBL at the same clinic, claimed portions of Kaydell’s organs were missing. The clinic, however, denied any wrongdoing, stating the body was handed over “untouched” and
that a government doctor confirmed no organs were missing. The medical facility suggested it’s “highly possible” the government coroner’s office removed the organs during the investigation into the cause of death.The physician who performed Brown’s procedures is reportedly working at another clinic. The Turkish coroner didn’t specify the mother’s cause of death on the death certificate.
“They told me that evening that she didn’t make it. I couldn’t believe it,” Leanne Brown told The Mirror. The sister was handed an envelope of cash as a refund and booked on the next flight home.
Brown had hoped the surgery would help her regain her confidence after gaining weight due to a broken ankle. Her sudden death leaves behind her two young sons and a grieving family.
The clinic, which has operated for 13 years and has performed over 23,000 aesthetic surgeries, defended its safety record, citing a low mortality rate. However, the facility acknowledged the loss of two patients, including Kaydell, and stressed the seriousness of the situation.
The United Kingdom government expressed condolences to Brown’s family and emphasized the importance of thoroughly researching cosmetic procedures and the qualifications of clinicians abroad. They have been working with the Turkish government to improve patient safety for those traveling for medical treatments.
Leanne Brown remembered her sister as “the funny one,” adding, “She was talented and a good mum.”
In 2022, a study reported that liposuction, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation were Turkey’s three most popular cosmetic procedures.
Death rates from cosmetic procedures in Turkey, on average, are lower than in other places like South America, but the European nation isn’t exempt from loss of life following surgical procedures.
In 2019, 31-year-old Melissa Kerr flew to Istanbul for a Brazilian Butt Lift. A report suggested that her pre-op assessment wasn’t as thorough as it was supposed to be. Melissa’s cause of death was a pulmonary embolism—a blood clot traveled to her lungs.
The British government also tried to crack down on its citizens’ casualties when traveling for plastic surgery. In 2022, a moratorium and additional safety measures were implemented for Brits traveling abroad for cosmetic procedures.