A tragic incident occurred at a Florida plastic surgery clinic where a woman’s life was lost following a cosmetic procedure. This marks the second fatality associated with the same facility within a month.
Kenly Millan Aponte, who traveled from Kentucky to Miami, Florida, was scheduled for a “mommy makeover” at Svelta Plastic Surgery on April 29. The procedures included a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and a Brazilian butt lift, a birthday gift from her husband, Jefferson Carrasco, as reported by NBC 6.
Unfortunately, the day’s events took a devastating turn.
While on the operating table, the 35-year-old began experiencing respiratory issues, according to a report from the Coral Gables Fire Department, obtained by Oxygen. Emergency responders faced delays reaching Kenly due to a malfunctioning elevator and a lack of staff assistance, the report noted.
Upon entering the operating room, responders found Kenly in cardiac arrest. The report highlighted that CPR was not being administered at the time of their arrival and there was no crash cart in sight.
Responders were told that staff were “almost done” with Kenly, according to the report, when her oxygen saturation began to drop. The report noted “minimal” communication between staff and EMS.
A spokesperson for Svelta Plastic Surgery told NBC 6 that staff followed life-saving protocols, including the use of a crash cart. An attorney and a spokesperson for the clinic did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Oxygen.
Then, in May, Endrys Elian Martinez, a 19-year-old from Tennessee, was being prepped for a rhinoplasty procedure when he experienced a medical emergency, according to a Coral Gables Fire Department report obtained by Oxygen.
His mom Iblin Martinez told CBS News Miami in comments translated from Spanish to English that her son booked the appointment through Seduction Cosmetic Surgery. When he arrived, the name of the business had been changed to Svelta Plastic Surgery.
Endrys was intubated and sedated ahead of surgery but developed high blood pressure, for which he was treated, a surgeon told emergency responders, per the fire department report. Endrys’ heart rate then dropped and staff administered epinephrine. His oxygen levels then fell dangerously low, dipping into the 60s.
By the time emergency responders arrived, Endrys was unresponsive. He later went into cardiac arrest. According to an interview Endrys’ parents gave to CBS News, he died.
“These are both anesthesia-related deaths,” attorney Jorge Silva, who is representing both families, told Oxygen. “Both deal with failure to properly oxygenate, intubate and monitor.”
According to NBC 6, the clinic initially said it had “no knowledge of the cases.” In a later statement, the clinic told NBC 6 that it “cannot discuss specific patients due to privacy laws” but that it is cooperating with authorities.
The facility also told NBC 6: “Svelta aims to play a constructive role in clarifying the truth surrounding these incidents, and we respectfully ask the public to refrain from making judgments until all facts have been properly reviewed and presented.”
Spokespeople from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner did not immediately return a request for comment from Oxygen.