Bride-to-be, 34, dies after lipo surgery she hoped would 'make her feel confident'

A lawyer and bride-to-be has tragically died after undergoing lipo surgery which she hoped would make her feel more confident.

Antonella Cortéz Chistama, who was planning to get next year, wanted to feel at her best when she walked down the aisle. The mum-of-two, 34, felt optimistic about her choice to have liposculpture - a procedure involving moving fat to different areas of the body.

However, on May 20 - the day of the operation - Antonella's mother was contacted to be told that her daughter was in the She was later told Antonella had suffered a

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Antonella's sister, Fiorella Cortéz, rushed to the hospital but there was nothing doctors could do. The incident is being investigated by the police and the clinic, near Lima in Peru, has temporarily closed after an inspection by cops allegedly found "irregularities". Antonella's heartbroken family is demanding answers.

Liposculpture is a surgical cosmetic procedure that removes fat from small parts of your body to create muscle tone and definition, explains . It can help reduce or reshape areas of your body that diet and exercise haven't improved such as arms, belly, breasts and chin.

The procedure takes about two to four hours, depending on how many areas you need treated. Plastic surgeons use a slender suction tube called a cannula and during liposculpture they inject a solution into the fat, make a small incision into the patient's skin before inserting the tube to suction out the fat. While seeing a plastic surgeon who has experience performing liposculpture greatly reduces risk, there are still possible complications including bleeding, blood clots, scarring, infection and skin burns.

Two years ago, a mum-of-two died after undergoing a in a secret clinic inside an apartment block. Rosalba Rodríguez reportedly underwent the operation inside an apartment block registered as a police tax office, with local media claiming the surgeon's husband was a police officer.

Following her death in the Colombian capital of Bogotá on May 18, 2023, the property was cleared and vacated by the suspects accused of carrying out the procedure. The victim's cousin Milena Camargo told local media: "They did not have the appropriate licences and permits to perform the procedure."

According to Milena, the victim's best friend convinced her to undergo the lipo there. The friend reportedly told her that the operation would be safe and much cheaper than using a registered beauty clinic.

Milena said: "She was deceived and manipulated due to her innocence and poor education level. She was unable to discern the situation after her best friend introduced her to the surgeon - named only as Katia who performed liposuction on my cousin."