Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — A Miami woman died Dec. 27 from apparent complications of liposuction and a buttocks enhancement procedure, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
The woman, 35-year-old Lidvian Zelaya, died after being rushed to Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale hours after her surgery had begun at Strax Rejuvenation and Aesthetics Institute in Lauderhill, Fla.
The Sun-Sentinel reports that her husband has not accused Strax of wrongdoing, but that during a news conference he warned that people should not undergo cosmetic surgery without considering the potential risks.
Philip Feanny, an attorney and partner at Strax, told the Sun-Sentinel that until Ms. Zelaya’s death is investigated, no one can say what happened. At press time, the Broward County Medical Examiner’s office had not made available results of an autopsy.
Deaths related to cosmetic surgery have been a problem in Florida, dating back to the 1990s, the Sun-Sentinel reports. In response, state regulators have restricted the number of procedures surgeons can perform at one time, increased training requirements and required inspections of surgery offices.
