Nurse, 41, Dies on Operating Table During Surgery to Remove Toxic Butt Fillers

Key Points:

• Paula Andrea Beltran Sandoval, a 41-year-old nursing assistant from New York originally from Medellin, died on June 18 during surgery to remove toxic biopolymer fillers from her buttocks at a clinic inside a shopping center in Medellin.
• The procedure, which she arranged from abroad and paid about £8,335 for, encountered complications about an hour into the operation, leading to a cardio-respiratory arrest and her subsequent death despite advanced resuscitation efforts.
• Authorities reported that Beltran Sandoval had no known prior health issues that would have indicated surgical risk, and her body showed chest injuries consistent with emergency resuscitation attempts.
• The Antioquia health authority has launched an investigation, including a full autopsy and review of the clinic's licenses and staff qualifications, amid growing concerns over cosmetic procedure safety in Medellin.
• Biopolymer injections are illegal in Colombia and the UK due to serious health risks, and this case follows a recent fatality linked to cosmetic procedures in Medellin, prompting increased regulatory inspections and the closure of 64 establishments for irregularities.