A BEAUTY queen has died from health complications after undergoing facial surgery.
Model Wilevis Brito, 24, who competed in Miss Venezuela, died on April 8 after a procedure to fix a "small lump" on her top lip.
Brito, who was also a law student and journalist, underwent an oral and maxillofacial procedure in a hospital in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, where she lived.
The treatment usually involves reconstructive surgery of the face, mouth, jaw, head and neck due to an abnormality or trauma.
A friend told local media: “She was undergoing jaw surgery due to maxillofacial wear and tear and a small lump that formed at the top of her lip.
“To avoid future complications, she decided to have the surgery.
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“Not for cosmetic or beauty reasons, but for health.
“She was apparently fine after the operation, but then the complications started.”
An investigation into her death is ongoing and her cause of death is not yet known.
SOCIAL MEDIA STAR
Brito, who had tens of thousands of followers on social media, built up her modelling career from an early age and competed in numerous beauty contests.
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She joined the Cerynel Fashion Academy in La Guaira, Venezuela, at the age of eight.
The young model was crowned Latin Fashion Vargas in 2013 and Great Model of the Pacific the following year.
She was undergoing jaw surgery due to maxillofacial wear and tear and a small lump that formed at the top of her lip
Wilevis Brito's Friend
She took part in Miss Venezuela and won the title of Queen of Sports of La Guaira 2023.
As well as working as a model, Brito studied law at the Central University of Venezuela before moving into media.
She also worked as a TV presenter for América Tucumán and A24 in Argentina for several years.
ANOTHER TRAGIC DEATH
Meanwhile, last August, another Miss Venezuelan beauty queen died.
Ariana Viera, 26, is feared to have fallen asleep at the wheel while driving through Orlando, Florida, on July 13.
Filming myself for my future funeral because it's always me in the videos, no one else does it
Ariana Viera
In a tragic twist, Ariana appeared to predict her funeral just months before.
She had posted a video on her Instagram page in May with the caption: “Filming myself for my future funeral because it's always me in the videos, no one else does it.”
SURGERY HELL
Last month, police arrested a director of a private clinic in Majorca following the death of a Brit patient, Donna Bee, who paid £6,000 for a boob job.
The 69-year-old has been held on suspicion of a gross negligence manslaughter charge after an investigation into the botched op.
It has since emerged that the unnamed director had ignored an order preventing him from working as a medical practitioner to partake in the fatal surgery.
Donna's family have shared the agonising ordeal the unnamed clinic in Palma put them through.
It is thought that Donna, who had a pre-existing heart condition, had a fatal reaction to the anaesthetic sparking a heart attack.
After being admitted to intensive care for almost two weeks, the Brit died on September 13.
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Donna's family revealed that all the preceding consultations had been conducted by email, and claimed that very little precaution had been taken by the clinic beforehand.
Risks of Getting Plastic Surgery Overseas
OVERSEAS surgeons are not subject to the same rules, regulations and training as doctors in the UK.
That means you can't guarantee the safety of the equipment or material they are using.
Unsterile equipment dramatically increases your risk of infection, which could lead to necrotising fasciitis (flesh-eating bugs), sepsis or even death.
On top of that, if you are opting for fillers or injections anywhere on the body there is no way of knowing if doctors are using dangerous substances.
Cosmetic surgeons have warned against cut-price surgery as there is a real risk you will be injected with "unsafe substances".
Prof Ash Mosahebi, honorary secretary of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), said most patients either opt for cheap injections or implants to boost their bum and boobs.
"If they are having injections then god knows what they are being injected with, if it is safe, or if it is sterile," he told The Sun Online.
"Oil, for example, does make it look bigger for a few days but then it deflates and it’s likely infection like sepsis can kick in.
"I know of silicone oil being used, which shouldn’t be used for medical purposes.
"I’ve heard of cement but I haven’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s things like that.
"Most of the time the injections end up having a lot of bacteria in them as well because they aren’t sterile."