Woman nearly dies after her own fat leaks into her body during drastic weight-loss operation

A WOMAN was almost killed by her own fat after having liposuction, a report reveals.

The drastic weight-loss procedure is normally regarded as safe.

But in the first case in Britain, tiny chunks of fat broke free following the procedure and travelled through the patient’s body.

They then blocked blood vessels in her lungs, damaging the brain and causing her body to shut down.

Known as fat embolism syndrome (FES), it is a life-threatening condition.

And overweight adults are at higher risk of developing it.

Medics warn it can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages.

Later symptoms include extreme breathlessness, pain in the chest, fever, rash and a high heart rate.

Patients may also suffer disorientation, confusion and seizures, and can go into a coma, requiring life support.

A warning has now been issued telling doctors to be on the lookout for tell-tale signs.

More than 3,200 overweight adults have liposuction in the UK each year, according to data from British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

In the current case, medics treated an unnamed 45-year-old woman with a BMI of 65 – making her super super obese.

They removed around 20 pints of fat from around her legs to make it easier for her walk.

But shortly after the procedure, the woman became drowsy and confused, with a high heart rate.

Her condition worsened as she was transferred to Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust intensive care unit, where tests showed she had FES.

She remained in hospital for two weeks and was given oxygen and drugs to help tackle her condition.

Writing in the journal BMJ Case Reports, Dr Adam Ali, said: “Liposuction is a procedure that is growing more common worldwide and is being done in higher-risk patient groups.

"While generally a safe procedure, it is important to consider the potential of fat embolism syndrome (FES) as a diagnosis in the post-procedure period.

“It emphasises the importance of thinking outside the box and how to identify and manage such a life threatening complication.”

Complications from liposuction hit the headlines in 2009 when Denise Hendry, the wife of former Scotland footballer Colin Hendry, died after bacteria spread from her stomach to her brain causing meningitis.

Mrs Hendry, 43, spent seven years fighting the illness after a botched liposuction operation in April 2002.

She suffered nine punctures to her bowel during the procedure.