A West Virginia woman died after suffering a “fat embolism” while undergoing plastic surgery to increase the size of her gluteal region.
Heather Meadows, a 29-year-old mother of two, was killed by fat particles that entered her bloodstream through a vein during a lipid transfer procedure. The fat particles clogged arteries in her heart and lungs, causing cascading organ failure and death.
She was taken to an emergency room after going into cardiac arrest during the cosmetic surgery and was pronounced dead on arrival.
This fat transfer procedure is common in what is called a “Brazilian butt lift,” where liposuction is performed on the torso and reallocated into the buttocks.
NBC 6 spoke with Meadows’ mother over the phone, who said she is distraught by the death of her daughter and is caring for her two young children.
Meadows’ mother has also hired an attorney to investigate the incident and take legal action if the clinic is found to be at fault.
Though, according to NBC 6, Meadows had a heart defect and her death has been ruled as accidental. Meadows’ mother said she was unaware of the birth defect.