The Lagos State Government has opened an investigation into the reported death of a Lagos socialite known as Elena, who allegedly died after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift procedure at a clinic in the state.
A Brazilian Butt Lift, also called BBL, is a cosmetic surgery that involves taking fat from other parts of the body and transferring it to the buttocks to make them appear fuller.
The inquiry is being handled by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, the state body in charge of inspecting, licensing and supervising health facilities.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary of the agency, Abiola Idowu, said the move followed social media reports claiming that the woman suffered complications linked to the cosmetic procedure.
According to the statement, the complications were said to have happened either during the surgery or shortly after it.
“The Lagos State Government, through the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), has commenced a full investigation into the reported death of a Lagos socialite popularly known as ‘Elena,’ who allegedly died after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) cosmetic procedure at a clinic in the state.
“The development follows reports circulating on social media alleging that the young woman developed complications after the aesthetic procedure, which reportedly occurred either during or shortly after the surgery.
“While details of the incident are still being verified, the State Government has assured the public that a thorough, professional, and transparent investigation has been initiated to determine the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate event”, the statement partly read.
The agency said early information showed that the clinic where the procedure was said to have taken place is registered with HEFAMAA. It, however, stressed that being registered does not stop any hospital or clinic from being investigated when issues of patient safety come up.
The statement continued, “Preliminary information indicates that the clinic where the procedure reportedly took place is registered with HEFAMAA.
“However, the agency notes that registration does not preclude any facility from regulatory scrutiny, particularly when incidents involving patient safety are reported.
“As the statutory regulatory body responsible for monitoring, licensing, and accrediting healthcare facilities in Lagos State, HEFAMAA ensures that all health facilities comply with established operational standards, professional guidelines, and patient safety protocols.”
The agency also said cosmetic and aesthetic surgeries in Lagos are regulated by laid down rules covering the condition of facilities, competence of practitioners and measures meant to protect patients.
“The agency reiterates that aesthetic and cosmetic surgical procedures are governed by clearly defined regulatory standards in Lagos State.
“These standards include requirements relating to facility infrastructure, practitioner qualifications, infection prevention and control protocols, patient consent procedures, anaesthetic safety, and emergency response capacity”, the agency added.
It said a wider review had started to find out whether the clinic and the medical team involved followed all required regulations before, during and after the procedure.
“Consequently, HEFAMAA has commenced a comprehensive review of the incident, including an assessment of compliance with regulatory standards, verification of the professional credentials of the medical personnel involved, and evaluation of the level of care provided to the patient before, during, and after the procedure”, the statement further stated.
The agency asked members of the public not to spread rumours or unconfirmed claims that could affect the ongoing investigation.
It also warned residents planning to undergo cosmetic procedures to make sure they use only accredited health facilities and trained medical professionals.
“Members of the public are therefore urged to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified or speculative information that may compromise the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
“The Lagos State Government also advises residents seeking cosmetic or aesthetic procedures to exercise due diligence by ensuring that such services are obtained only from accredited health facilities and qualified medical practitioners with the requisite training and competence.”
The government said it would continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement across the health sector in order to protect residents.
“The government remains firmly committed to protecting the health and safety of all residents through strengthened regulatory oversight, continuous monitoring of healthcare facilities, and strict enforcement of healthcare standards across the state.
“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses”, the agency concluded.
