14-year-old girl dies after alleged unauthorized breast surgery in Mexico; father says procedure carried out without his knowledge

A 14-year-old girl, Paloma Nicole Arellano Escobedo, died in a Durango hospital on Saturday, a week after what relatives describe as an unauthorized breast enlargement procedure. The death certificate reportedly lists complications from a respiratory illness as the cause of death, a description her father, Carlos Arellano, disputes. "Her death certificate falsely stated 'illness' as the cause of death in an attempt to cover up the truth," he told local media.

Arellano said Paloma underwent the operation without his knowledge and that he learned of it only after her funeral. He said the family had traveled with Paloma and her mother for the procedure, and that Paloma's condition deteriorated after the operation, culminating in respiratory arrest and cardiac issues. He said hospital staff initially told him that Paloma had a COVID-19 infection during the trip, and that she had been intubated and placed in an induced coma. Antena 3 reports that Paloma's mother had given consent for the surgery.

Authorities in Durango said they are investigating Paloma's death. Her father filed a complaint after Paloma's funeral, demanding accountability for what he describes as a possible cover-up. The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of cosmetic procedures conducted on minors, and of procedures done abroad, according to local reports.

Two months earlier, a 40-year-old woman in Brazil died after liposuction performed by a renowned plastic surgeon at San Gennaro Hospital in São Paulo. Natália Cavanellas, a well-known businesswoman, died after the procedure performed by Dr. Edgar Lopez, who promotes high-definition liposuction and related techniques. The Brazilian case has intensified debate over patient safety and the oversight of cosmetic surgery for non-adults.

In another related case, last year a young mother died after a botched Brazilian butt lift performed at a Turkish clinic. The incident drew attention from a UK coroner, who said he would write to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to press for measures intended to curb young women traveling overseas for discounted cosmetic procedures.

The broader context underscores ongoing concerns about procedures performed without adequate medical oversight, particularly when minors are involved, and highlights the need for informed consent, regulatory safeguards, and closer scrutiny of international cosmetic-travel schemes as authorities seek to protect patients from risky interventions.