Woman dies after 3 simultaneous cosmetic surgeries — authorities investigate a connection

A Brazilian woman died recently, not long after she underwent three simultaneous cosmetic surgeries, and authorities are now investigating whether the procedures could have contributed to her death.

According to the Brazilian news outlet Globo, on Feb. 26, 2026, Priscila Dorneles, an esthetician, had three plastic surgeries at the same time, including breast work, liposuction, and scar correction, at the Grand Santa Maria Hospital in Goiânia, in central Brazil. According to reports, three days later, on Feb. 28, Dornelas’ sister found her dead inside the esthetician’s home.

Dornelas’ procedures went according to “protocol”

After Dornelas was confirmed dead, Grand Santa Maria Hospital said in a statement that her condition was stable when she was discharged, and the procedures went according to “protocol.”

“The team is dedicated to supporting the family and understanding the facts. We remain available to clarify anything necessary and possible,” the hospital said, according to People.

Authorities are investigating if there is any connection between Dornelas’ recent procedures and her cause of death. An official cause of death has not been determined.

Risk of cosmetic surgery

Though deaths after elective procedures are rare, they do happen. The same month Dornelas died, medical staff placed 47-year-old Ohio mother Rachel Tussey in hospice care following complications from a tummy-tuck procedure she had documented on TikTok.

Reports indicate her condition deteriorated shortly after surgery when she lost consciousness in recovery; she remained without oxygen for several minutes before medical teams began resuscitation efforts. Doctors later declared her brain dead, and her husband ultimately decided to remove her from life support.

Authorities in the United Kingdom have also investigated the death of Jordan James Parke, a reality-TV personality known for extensive cosmetic procedures. Parke was found dead in London in February 2026, and police said they were examining whether the death was connected to a cosmetic treatment. Two people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter during the investigation.

Another widely reported case involved an influencer, Ana Bárbara Buhr Buldrini, 31, who died in 2025 in Istanbul after undergoing multiple cosmetic procedures — including breast augmentation, liposuction, and rhinoplasty — in a single session. Her husband said she went into cardiac arrest shortly after the surgery.

While such outcomes are uncommon, medical experts often note that risks increase when several cosmetic procedures are combined into a single operation. Longer surgery times can mean prolonged anesthesia, greater blood loss, and higher chances of complications such as infection, blood clots, or cardiac events.

Qualified surgeons in accredited medical facilities generally perform safe procedures, such as liposuction and body-contouring surgeries. However, authorities investigating deaths following cosmetic surgery often examine whether the staff properly followed appropriate patient screening, surgical planning, and post-operative monitoring, especially in cases involving medical tourism or clinics that perform multiple procedures during a single operation.