In a tragic turn of events, the family of Erica Russell, a 33-year-old mother of five from Tennessee, is mourning her untimely death following a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery.
Allegations have surfaced against Dr. John Sampson of Coral Gables’ Seduction Cosmetic Center, with the family claiming that the procedure should never have been performed by the doctor.
According to reports from NBC News and the Miami Herald, Russell passed away just over two hours into the surgery, succumbing to cardiac arrest on the night of June 16, 2021.
The lawsuit filed by Russell’s estate accuses Dr. Sampson of puncturing her bladder, liver, and intestines during the procedure, ultimately leading to her death from bleeding and pulmonary fat embolism.
South Florida has been highlighted as a concerning hotspot for BBL-related fatalities, adding weight to the family’s concerns about the safety of such procedures.
Russell was allegedly the seventh patient on Dr. Sampson’s schedule that day, with the surgery commencing approximately 14 hours after his first procedure.
The lawsuit directed at Seduction Cosmetic Center accuses the facility of wrongfully advertising Dr. Sampson as a surgeon.
Despite being labeled as a “designated physician” in an application submitted to the Florida Health Department, Dr. Sampson later claimed in a letter to state officials that he was not a surgeon at Seduction. This contradiction raises serious questions about the oversight and approval processes at the cosmetic facility.
Furthermore, Dr. Sampson’s plastic surgery board certification was suspended in 2022, adding another layer of concern regarding his qualifications and suitability to perform such procedures.
Michael Lavine, an attorney involved in the case, emphasized the family’s anguish over Russell’s death, describing it as a result of “assembly line medicine.”
The tragic loss of Erica Russell has reignited discussions about the safety and regulation of cosmetic procedures, particularly in high-risk surgeries like the Brazilian Butt Lift.
With the legal proceedings initiated, Russell’s family would be fighting for justice and accountability for their beloved Erica’s untimely passing.
