Colombian health authorities are investigating the death of a woman in Bogotá who passed away at home just three days after undergoing a bichectomy, a cosmetic procedure that removes fat pads from the cheeks to create a slimmer, more contoured facial look. The case came to light on August 30 and has drawn scrutiny from the Bogotá District Health Secretariat, the local government agency responsible for overseeing medical and health-related facilities in the Colombian capital.
According to officials, the procedure was performed at an aesthetic center located in Antonio Nariño, one of Bogotá’s administrative districts. Health authorities say the business did not hold the proper permits required to carry out plastic surgery procedures, raising serious concerns about oversight in the city’s booming cosmetic beauty industry.
The Health Secretariat released a statement providing additional details about the establishment as the investigation continues. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact cause of death or whether any criminal charges will be filed against those responsible for operating the facility.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of complications and fatalities linked to unlicensed cosmetic clinics in Bogotá, reigniting debate over the need for stricter regulation of the aesthetic procedures industry in Colombia.
For more details on this ongoing investigation, read the full original report at El Tiempo.
Image: Phillip Pessar, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).