In a tragic case of cosmetic surgery gone wrong, the family of 38-year-old British woman Kaydell Brown is grappling with her sudden death during a multi-procedure operation in Turkey and the shocking discovery that her body was returned home missing vital organs.
Brown died on March 26 while undergoing surgery at the Clinic Expert in Istanbul, where she had traveled for a “mummy MOT”—a package that included a Brazilian butt lift, tummy tuck, and breast augmentation.
Kaydell’s sister, Leanne Brown, who had accompanied her to Turkey for support, recounted the devastating moment she learned of her sister’s death.
“She went in for surgery at about 9:30 a.m., and that was the last time I saw her,” Leanne told ITV.
Hours later, clinic staff informed her of complications during the procedures that had resulted in Kaydell’s death. Leanne was then abruptly handed an envelope with a refund and a one-way plane ticket back to the UK.
Adding to the family’s grief and suspicion, the clinic initially denied access to Kaydell’s body. When it was finally returned to the UK, a coroner discovered that large portions of her brain, lungs, and heart were missing.
“When they returned her body, they kept pieces of her heart and her intestines, and that could show the cause of death, but we might not know because they’re not very cooperative,” Leanne shared.
The clinic denied any involvement in the organ removal, insisting that they delivered the body intact to the Turkish coroner’s office and suggesting that parts may have been removed during the autopsy process.
“We have handed the body untouched to the Coroner’s Office,” the clinic stated, attributing her death to potential fat embolism, a known risk in Brazilian butt lift surgeries.
The situation raises concerns over the safety of medical tourism, especially in Turkey, a popular destination for cosmetic procedures.
Over one million people travel to Turkey annually for such treatments, including 150,000 British citizens. Since 2019, 28 British citizens have died in Turkey following cosmetic surgeries, according to UK Foreign Office records.
A UK government spokesperson acknowledged the rise in medical tourism and emphasized the importance of thorough research before undergoing procedures abroad:
“We urge anyone considering a cosmetic procedure abroad to research the treatment in question, the qualifications of their clinician, and the regulations that apply in the country they are traveling to.”
Kaydell, who was a mother to two boys aged 12 and 16, had recently celebrated her 38th birthday and hoped the procedures would mark a new chapter in her life after enduring several difficult years.
The family continues to await an official cause of death from Turkish authorities as they seek answers and justice for their loss.
