OP TRAGEDY
Sister of Brit mum, 38, who died after ‘bum-lift’ surgery in Turkey reveals heartbreaking last chat before tragic op
Watch Leanne's heartbreaking interview as she described her sister as 'loving and funny'
THE devastated sister of a Brit mum who died after a botched "Brazilian bum-lift" has revealed their tragic final chat.
Hairdresser Kaydell Brown, 38, had paid £5,400 for the procedure as well as a tummy tuck and a boob job hoping she would change her life.
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But the Sheffield mum-of-two tragically died in the recovery room due to complications in her surgery in Istanbul, Turkey.
Her sister Leanne, 40, was accompanying Kaydell when she passed away.
The sisters had decided they would both have the same treatment at the clinic and were in high spirits as they arrived in Turkey - unaware of the tragedy that would unfold.
Leanne told of their last chat before the deadly op.
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She said: “She was really happy. She was excited.
"We were smiling, having a laugh and she just wanted to get there and get it done.”
Leanne, who was due to be operated on next by the same surgeon, also revealed the gut-wrenching way doctors broke the news of her sister's death.
Staff said they tried to wake Kaydell up after surgery and some fat must have travelled to her lungs.
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Leanne recalled: “She went in for surgery at about 9.30am and that was the last time I saw her.
"I was in the room waiting for her to come back. I'd asked a few times where she was, how long she was going to be and they just kept saying she was coming and then I got a knock on the door.
Brit mum, 23, left in coma after botched £1,500 gastric sleeve op in Turkey
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"Three people walked in and said, can you come with us please?
"They took me to a room and they just started trying to say, you know, there's complications with surgery, you know things can happen. And I said, 'has my sister died?' And he just said, 'I'm sorry, but yeah'.”
Leanne added she was simply handed an envelope of cash as a refund and was booked on the next flight out.
“They just gave me an envelope and said here’s your money back and here’s your sister’s money back," she said.
"And here’s your flight. It’s like, sorry she’s dead, here’s your plane ticket.
"When you go in and you’re paying, they’re your best friends but when something goes wrong, you’re left to yourself, it’s goodbye.”
Leanne said she was refused permission to see her sister’s body and a flight back to the UK was hastily arranged by the clinic.
The next day, Leanne was back at the airport – dazed and fighting back her tears as she headed home on her own.
The grieving sister now wants to warn others of the dangers and slammed the Istanbul clinic as a “pop-up butcher shop that needs shutting down”.
She said Kaydell was hoping the surgery would get her life “back on track” as she had put on a lot of weight after breaking her ankle.
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Leanne told ITV News: “She broke her ankle, it really got her down, she had to have it fused. So she put on weight and was in pain.
“So she thought the ‘mummy MOT’ would give her a confidence boost and get her back on track.
"She didn’t feel attractive and this was going to sort her out… get her life back. She wanted to get her old self back. She was more than excited.”
The Sun has contacted ClinicExpert for more information.
When Kaydell was eventually examined by a coroner in the UK, more devastating news was to come as large parts of her brain, lungs and heart were missing.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Our sympathies are with the family of Kaydell Brown.
“The UK government has been actively engaging with the Turkish government on how to support the safety of patients who decide they wish to travel to Turkey for medical treatment.
“We urge anyone considering a cosmetic procedure abroad to research the treatment in question, the qualifications of their clinician and the regulations that apply in the country they are travelling to.”
ITV News tracked down the team at Clinic Expert who were responsible for Kaydell’s care.
Their written response read: "No evidence of organ trauma was found. We have handed the body untouched to the Coroner’s Office (in Turkey)."
Clinic Expert adds: “It is highly possible parts were removed while trying to determine the cause of death.”
Over a million foreigners visit Turkey for medical procedures every year - among them, 150,000 Britons.
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And the number of British citizens travelling to Turkey is increasing faster than any other nationality, drawn by the cheap prices.
The Foreign Office says 28 Brits have died after having cosmetic surgery in Turkey since 2019.
What are the risks of having surgery abroad?
DOING research is crucial if you're considering getting cosmetic surgery done overseas, the NHS advises.
It may be less expensive than in the UK, but you must balance the hazards and potential savings as standards for safety might not be as strict.
Surgery carries some risk. After surgery, complications can arise in the UK or overseas.
The onus of providing follow-up therapy falls on the surgeon in the UK if you experience complications following an operation.
It's possible that follow-up care in overseas clinics is either not offered at all or is not offered to the same standard as in the UK.
Additionally, it's possible that they don't have a UK-based medical expert you can contact in case of issues.
If someone is considering cosmetic surgery, most advice is very much the same whether they receive treatment in the UK or overseas.
Learn everything you can about the aesthetic procedure.
This includes the consultations, the procedure itself, any risks or complications, and aftercare.
You run a higher risk of a potentially fatal blood clot if you fly or have serious surgery.
It is advised that you avoid flying for five to seven days following treatments like liposuction and breast surgery, and for seven to ten days following tummy tucks or cosmetic facial procedures.
You can to find out more.
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