Just days after returning to the UK, Tabby Brown collapsed at her home in south London having developed a “fat embolism”
An inquest into her death revealed that the 45-year-old had travelled to the Dominican Republic where she had the procedure in October last year.
However, just days after returning to the UK she collapsed at her home in south London having developed a “fat embolism”.
When her mother Mahasin who shared the home with Ms Brown discovered her on the floor on October 13 she was not breathing.
Her mother told police she had returned from a two-week trip to South America days earlier but “felt weak” before falling to the floor unconscious.
Paramedics declared her dead at the scene at 1.30am.
The inquest was told she had two “puncture wounds” in her pelvis, which confirmed she had undergone plastic surgery.
Toxicology reports came back negative for drink and drugs, but her lungs showed “numerous small globules of fat” and this “fat embolism in her circulation” led to her death.
Cosmetic surgeon expert, Oliver Harley, told the inquest Tabby travelled to the Dominican Republic for a Brazilian butt-lift (BBL).
“This is where fat is harvested from the torso by liposuction and injected into the buttocks to increase their size,” he told the inquest.
“The BBL is known to cause potential fat embolism and death and Tabby died as a consequence.”
Coroner Julian Morris, recording a narrative verdict, said Ms Brown had “enjoyed a successful career as a model and was well liked professionally and personally”.
He added: “The post-mortem concluded that Tabby’s cause of death was fat embolism caused by liposuction.
“Fat embolisms are a known and rare complication but can occur with this type of surgery.
“The expert concluded that liposuction had caused her death as fat embolisms do not occur naturally.
“She was fit and healthy, visited the Dominican Republic for surgery and on her return became unwell and collapsed. On balance, the operative procedure caused her death.”
Tabby, who also appeared in Cosmopolitan and Elle, was also an actor and dancer.
Ms Brown went on a date with England international Sterling in 2016 and was romantically linked with ex-Manchester City and Italy player Mario Balotelli five years earlier, who she fell for “against my better judgement”.
The inquest which was held at South London Coroners Court where her mother, brother and sister paid tribute to the model whose “big laugh, smile and a personality” had charmed many and “matched her beauty”.
“After Tabby's surgery abroad, she returned to the family home and was cared for by our mother, who was under the impression she had picked up a viral infection whilst travelling,” they wrote in a statement.
“Tabby did not inform her mother that she'd had surgery. Generally, Tabby was in good health, she was an avid fitness enthusiast and enjoyed weight training.
“She was a foodie, who in recent years particularly enjoyed baking. Tabby had enjoyed a successful career as a model, having featured in music videos of several well-known British and American artists.
“She was also the face of many ad campaigns for recognised brands. Tabby was well known and well-liked by many personally and professionally.
“Close family and close friends take solace from the fact that she experienced many years in which she lived out her dreams.”
They added: “But we are also saddened by her premature departure, we love and miss Tabby very much and will always keep her memory close to our hearts.”
BBL surgery, which is buttock enlargement surgery, carries the highest risk of all cosmetic surgeries - with more than one death per 4,000 procedures
“Brazilian Bum Lifts have the highest risk rating of cosmetic surgery in the world,” Michelle Furey Lawlor, who owns JeJuve clinic in Dublin, told us in 2022.
“With BBL, you take fat anywhere in the body, it is put into the bum and what happens if it is put in a certain way under the muscles, near the veins and artery, they can actually pierce the veins and arteries and cause an embolism.
"These people can die. That’s why it’s the highest risk surgery at the moment.”