What was meant to be a “glow-up” ended in tragedy. Ana Bárbara Buhr Buldrini, a 31-year-old influencer from Mozambique with over 800,000 followers, is dead after traveling to Istanbul, Turkey, for a “free” plastic surgery deal that claimed her life before the procedures were even completed.
According to reports from local outlet O Tempo, Buldrini underwent multiple surgeries—including liposuction, breast augmentation, and rhinoplasty—on June 15, as part of a promotional exchange with a private Istanbul clinic. The cosmetic procedures, in return for exposure to her large following, came with a $0 price tag. But the real cost was far greater.
A Fatal Chain of Negligence
In the hours before surgery, Buldrini was seen partying with her surgeon, drinking alcohol and failing to observe pre-surgical fasting protocols. According to her husband, Elgar Sueia, who traveled with her, she was not given standard pre-operative clearance, and the entire process was rushed.
Despite raising concerns, Buldrini placed her trust in the clinic’s professionals.
She was taken into the operating room just hours later, where she reportedly went into cardiac arrest shortly after receiving anesthesia. Medical personnel attempted to resuscitate her for 90 minutes, but she died before the surgeries could be completed.
“It was pure negligence,” said Sueia. “She expressed concern about the lack of preparation, but trusted them anyway.”
The Dark Side of Medical Tourism
Buldrini’s death sheds light on the increasingly dangerous world of international cosmetic tourism, especially in countries like Turkey, where dozens of similar deaths have occurred.
- Since 2021, over 24 patients—most of them young, healthy women—have died in Turkey following plastic surgeries such as BBLs, liposuction, and other high-risk procedures.
- Many clinics operate under factory-like conditions, pushing high volumes of patients through minimal screening and lax safety standards.
- Influencers are often invited for promotional deals, offered free surgeries in exchange for social media exposure, regardless of medical risk.
These clinics may project glamour online, but behind the scenes, basic medical protocols are often ignored. In Buldrini’s case, everything from pre-op screening to post-op care appears to have been bypassed.
“I just wanted a glow-up,” Ana reportedly said before departing Mozambique. Instead, she became another name in a growing list of preventable deaths tied to budget surgeries abroad.
A Tragic Reminder
Buldrini’s story is a devastating reminder that cutting corners for cosmetic procedures can come at a fatal cost. With U.S. or European surgeries often costing $6,000 or more, many patients are lured by foreign clinics offering deeply discounted rates—or, in Ana’s case, free procedures in exchange for posts and promotion.
But that price can come with inadequate regulations, overbooked surgeons, and a lack of patient safety.
As cosmetic tourism continues to rise, experts warn prospective patients to research facilities thoroughly, verify medical credentials, and never skip pre-op health clearances, no matter how enticing the offer.
