Brit woman, 31, told hospital worker she was ‘nervous’ before she died during Brazilian bum lift operation in Turkey
A BRITISH woman told a hospital worker she was "nervous" before she died during a Brazilian bum lift operation in Turkey, an inquest heard.
Melissa Kerr, 31, travelled from her home in Norfolk to Istanbul to undergo the £3,200 procedure at Medicana Kadikoy hospital.
The dangerous op reshapes the buttocks by transferring fat from areas including the stomach and back.
Melissa was killed when injected fat entered a vein and blocked her pulmonary artery causing an embolism.
An inquest heard today how the counsellor was only given "limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate" associated with the op in November 2020.
Consultant plastic surgeon Simon Withey told the hearing the death rate associated with Brazilian butt lifts is "likely to be in excess of one in 4,000".
The expert also said it was "quite possible" Melissa may not have gone ahead with the procedure if she had known the risks before she ";financially committed".
Norfolk Coroner's Court heard Melissa sent a string of WhatsApp messages to a hospital worker before travelling to Turkey.
She asked four times to be sent photos of previous patients but these were never allegedly never forwarded on.
Melissa, who was "conscious about her appearance", also told the worker she was a "bit nervous".
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Norfolk's senior coroner Jacqueline Lake recorded a narrative verdict and confirmed Melissa died after cosmetic surgery.
She said: "Ms Kerr wasn't seen by a surgeon or clinician prior to the date of the procedure.
"Ms Kerr underwent a limited assessment prior to the procedures.
"Ms Kerr was provided with limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate associated with this procedure."
The coroner said she would be writing to the Health Secretary Steve Barclay about overseas surgeries to "prevent future deaths".
Melissa's devastated partner Skye Birch previously paid tribute to the counsellor.
He said: "So it's valentines, a day of hearts and flowers, a day of showing how much you love and care for some one in your life.
"But for us it's another occasion we have to spend without you Melissa Kerr.
"All I want is To be Us again…to put your engagement ring on your finger, for you to plan your wedding with you mum and sister.
"I will continue to love you with all my heart until my last breath.”
Melissa worked as a psychological wellbeing practitioner at mental health charity Mind, according to a page.
Her heartbroken twin sister Natasha paid tribute to the animal lover, who was "passionate about changing the world one step at a time".
She said: "Words cannot describe the pain and heartbreak we are going through, life without her will never be the same again.
"We miss her deeply and nothing will fill the emptiness we are left with.
"A pure and beautiful soul inside and out."
The controversial Brazilian butt lift involves taking fat from the waist or stomach and inserting it in the buttocks.
It takes between one and two hours and involves a tiny cannula being inserted into a 2mm hole to extract fat.
The fat is then purified and re-injected into the buttocks.
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But it is believed to have the highest death rate of all cosmetic surgery procedures.
