A British mother-of-three who had a Brazilian bum-lift operation in Turkey has tragically died just days later.
Demi Agoglia, 26, of Salford, Greater Manchester, is thought to have suffered multiple heart attacks caused by a fat embolism after doctors had said her surgery last Thursday was successful.
Ms Agoglia, who had a seven-month-old baby boy, reportedly complained of chest pains a few hours before she was due to return to Manchester, The Sun reported.
According to her family, she went back to the clinic in Istanbul for a check-up but had a heart attack in a taxi on the way to the hospital as her partner, Bradley Jones, gave her CPR in a desperate bid to save her life.
The young woman was taken into intensive care but was tragically pronounced dead on Monday.
The mother reportedly flew to Turkey having already had dental work which was botched as well as another surgery.
Demi Agoglia, 26, of Salford, Greater Manchester, has died just days after having a Brazilian bum-lift in Turkey
Her devastated brother Carl, 37, said Ms Agoglia’s family and partner had tried to convince her not to go through with the bum-lift as they were concerned for her safety.
The father-of-four said: ‘It is tragic what happened. We are just in shock. She went to Istanbul to have it done.
‘She had previously gone to have her teeth done. No one wanted her to go out and have it done but she is one of those people.
‘Her partner is still out there and his dad has just flown out there to be with him.
‘If anyone is thinking of flying to Turkey for an operation I would say don’t do it! Even her boyfriend didn’t want her to do it. But she is 26 and has her own mind. Her mum didn’t want her to go out either.
‘We have been told that her boyfriend had to do CPR on her in a taxi.
‘We think they both went back to the clinic for a check up and that she collapsed in the clinic.’
He added: ‘They put her in a taxi with her partner. Something happened in the taxi. She couldn’t breathe.
Fat is first harvested from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction . Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the glutes at specific points, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance
READ MORE: Brazilian Butt Lift: What ARE the risks of the cosmetic surgery and why are so many Brits travelling abroad to get it done?
Kim Kardashian has admitted undergoing a BBL
‘He had to do CPR. I don’t know if she came round and died in the hospital. That is vague. We don’t know the full details.
‘I think there will be a coroner’s report over there. Her partner needs a death certificate before she comes home.
‘She is only 26; she shouldn’t have died. Just don’t do it, it’s such a high risk. She should never have done it. She has left three young kids.’
The mother’s youngest sister Georgina uploaded an emotional tribute video on TikTok showing her loved one.
She wrote: ‘I lost my sister yesterday. I miss you so much Demi. Nothing feels real anymore. How can you be gone.
‘Just wanna hear you shout alright Rkid nothing will ever be the same without you I love you Demi x.’
According to The Sun, Ms Agoglia and her family had only recently learned that their mother Christine had beaten a battle against cancer.
A source said: ‘Demi’s family and partner are heartbroken. The doctors had told her the operation was a success and she was recovering for a few days as you’re not allowed to fly home straight away.’
It comes after another British woman died following a ‘Brazilian butt lift’ in Turkey.
Melissa Kerr, 31, who was ‘conscious about her appearance’, travelled to a private hospital in Istanbul for the procedure, coroner Jacqueline Lake said.
But the psychological wellbeing practitioner, of Denton, Norfolk, was only given ‘limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate’ associated with it.
Ms Kerr, who had a breast enlargement operation a decade earlier without complications, died at the Medicana Kadikoy hospital on the day of the butt lift – which sees fat harvested from elsewhere on the body and injected into the buttocks – on November 19, 2022.
Q&A
By Emily Stearn, Health Reporter
What is a Brazilian butt lift?
BBLs are used to make buttocks bigger, more rounded or lifted.
It sees fat transferred from other areas of the body, such as the hips or stomach, to give patients a fuller derriere.
Despite the dangers, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) says the op is the fastest-growing type of cosmetic surgery, with its popularity increasing by 20 per cent year-on-year.
It was shunned in the UK because of its risks. But last year, BAAPs, which creates guidelines for British plastic surgeons, partly reversed its decision on offering the procedure.
Surgeons in the UK are now instead encouraged to do superficial gluteal lipofilling (SGL), which is considered a ‘lite’ form of the procedure.
How is a BBL carried out?
Fat is first harvested from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs and other areas via liposuction.
Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the glutes at specific points, giving the buttocks a bigger, curvier appearance.
The procedure, sometimes referred to as lipomodelling, usually lasts a couple of hours.
According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgeons, it is typical for a portion of the injected fat not to ‘take’ in its new location.
Why do people want a BBL?
Unhappiness over a ‘flat’ buttocks that lack shape, despite a healthy lifestyle, is a common reason listed by those who choose to undergo BBL surgery.
Experts have also blamed the allure of celebrity culture and choreographed social media images for fuelling the BBL trend.
In July, London-based aesthetic surgeon Dr Veerle Rotsaert told she discourages patients from getting any BBL and instead recommends they go to the gym and do squats.
She said: ‘In my practice if people want more volume in the buttocks area, I first of all educate them on normal anatomy.
‘I recommend going to the gym to do squats.’
Dr Rotsaert also urged Brits to shy away from BBLs, stating that the ‘Kardashian body type is a trend’.
‘And we all know trends go out of fashion at some stage,’ she added.
How much does it cost?
On average, it costs around £6,000 in the UK. But according to the NHS, it could be priced as high as £8,000.
There may also be additional costs for consultations, aftercare and further treatment sessions, if required.
Adverts for the procedure in Turkey, meanwhile, have been advertised online for as little as $2,750 (£2,190).
In July, also found some cosmetic surgery packages in Turkey being sold for under £3,000. Brits were being offered the chance to get a BBL as part of a five-night hotel stay and VIP airport transfers.
Why do people travel abroad for a BBL?
For decades, Brits have been warned against seeking cheaper surgery in places like Turkey, Eastern Europe, or South East Asia.
Turkey is not inherently more dangerous than other surgical tourism hotspots.
But cheap flights between it and the UK — as well as the rise of the trend combining cosmetic surgery with a holiday — have made it one of the leading destinations for Brits looking to go under the knife.
Nora Nugent, the Vice President of BAAPS told : ‘There are many reasons why people travel abroad for cosmetic surgery including BBL — but one of the most common reasons is price.
‘Overseas surgery can be cheaper than surgery in the UK. Differences in the cost of living, business expenses, cost of ensuring compliance of premises and processes with UK regulations and medical insurance are some of the reasons why it can be more expensive in the UK.
‘The BAAPS urge people to look at quality and service provided as well as cost though as it is vital to know what is included and not included and to have full information on the procedure and your surgeon and hospital too.’
In Turkey, the BBL and even what are dubbed ‘extreme BBLs’ are promoted.
In fact, some clinics even underplay the risks linked with the surgery. A investigation earlier this year found one clinic claiming that a BBL is ‘completely safe when carried out by a qualified BBL surgeon in Istanbul’.
Another offered a more extreme BBL — the ‘BBL with Vaser Liposuction’.
With this procedure, the clinic claims they are able to extract more fat from the body at once and says this results in a slimmer abdomen which makes the hips more noticeable.
What are the risks of a BBL?
BBLs are one of the most dangerous types of cosmetic surgery available.
The risk of death is higher than most operations, currently estimated at one in 15,000.
Surgeons can accidentally inject the fat into the bloodstream —which can cause a potentially deadly blood clot.
Such a complication is what killed Leah Cambridge, 29, a British mother who died in August 2018 after paying £6,500 to get a BBL in Turkey.
Generic side effects include bruising, swelling, temporary numbness and scars.
And, like any op, it carries the risk of excessive bleeding and an infection.
In her response to Ms Kerr’s prevention of future death report, Maria Caulfield, minister for mental health and women’s health strategy, wrote: ‘The risk of death for BBL surgery is at least 10 times higher than many other cosmetic procedures, and it has the highest death rate of all cosmetic procedures.
‘As you note, BAAPS has advised its members not to carry out BBL surgery until more is known about safer techniques for the procedure.’
Experts also warn against the pressure tactics employed by cosmetic surgery clinics including time-sensitive deals and booking procedures informally using apps like WhatsApp.
In a string of WhatsApp messages between Ms Kerr and a hospital worker before she travelled to Turkey, Ms Kerr 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.
How does an SGL differ from a BBL?
An SGL is, effectively, a lighter version of BBL.
It uses fat from elsewhere in the body to make the buttocks appear curvier. However, a SGL only injects fat below the skin.
In comparison, BBLs go deeper into the muscles themselves, which raises the risks of the procedure.
An SGL doesn’t provide the same results as a BBL but is considered safer.
What should people do if they still want to travel to Turkey?
In June, in an ‘unprecedented’ move, BAAPS issued a joint statement with the Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (TSPRAS) over fears of an increased number of complications and deaths in Turkey following cosmetic surgery.
‘Multiple reports have highlighted concerns that our two national societies share regarding standards of patient care,’ they said.
Those who still want to travel abroad for surgery were strongly urged to follow new guidance, including checking that any Turkish surgeons are TSPRAS members and have Turkish board certification.
Plastic surgeons should also have practiced in their speciality area for at least five years.
‘It is compulsory in Turkey to have a comprehensive consent form completed ahead of travel – if this does not happen it should raise concerns,’ they added.
Equally, surgeons must offer aftercare plans and means of contacting them.