Beauty queen Wilevis Brito, 24, dies while undergoing facial surgery to fix ‘small lump’ on her top lip
A BEAUTY queen has died from health complications after undergoing facial surgery.
Wilevis Brito, 24, who competed in Miss Venezuela, died on April 8 after a procedure to fix a "small lump" on her top lip.
The oral and maxillofacial procedure took place at a hospital in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
The treatment usually involves reconstructive surgery of the face, mouth, jaw or head and neck due to an abnormality or trauma.
A friend told local media: “She was undergoing jaw surgery due to maxillofacial wear and tear and a small lump that formed at the top of her lip.
“To avoid future complications, she decided to have the surgery.
read more on health
“Not for cosmetic or beauty reasons, but for health.
“She was apparently fine after the operation, but then the complications started.”
An investigation into her death is ongoing.
Brito showed an interest in modelling from an early age.
She joined the Cerynel Fashion Academy in La Guaira, Venezuela, at the age of eight.
The young model was crowned Latin Fashion Vargas in 2013 and Great Model of the Pacific the following year.
She also took part in Miss Venezuela and won the title of Queen of Sports of La Guaira 2023.
As well as working as a model, Brito studied law at the Central University of Venezuela before moving into media.
She also worked as a TV presenter for América Tucumán and A24 in Argentina for several years.
Last August, another Miss Venezuelan beauty queen died.
Ariana Viera, 26, is feared to have fallen asleep at the wheel while driving through Orlando, Florida, on July 13.
In a tragic twist, Ariana appeared to predict her on funeral just months before.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
She had posted a video on her Instagram page in May with the caption: “Filming myself for my future funeral because it's always me in the videos, no one else does it.”
Risks of plastic surgery overseas
OVERSEAS surgeons are not subject to the same rules, regulations and training as doctors in the UK.
That means you can't guarantee the safety of the equipment or material they are using.
Unsterile equipment dramatically increases your risk of infection, which could lead to necrotising fasciitis (flesh-eating bugs), sepsis or even death.
On top of that, if you are opting for fillers or injections anywhere on the body there is no way of knowing if doctors are using dangerous substances.
Cosmetic surgeons have warned against cut-price surgery as there is a real risk you will be injected with "unsafe substances".
Prof Ash Mosahebi, honorary secretary of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons’ (BAAPS), said most patients either opt for cheap injections or implants to boost their bum and boobs.
"If they are having injections then god knows what they are being injected with, if it is safe, or if it is sterile," he told The Sun Online.
"Oil, for example, does make it look bigger for a few days but then it deflates and it’s likely infection like sepsis can kick in.
"I know of silicone oil being used, which shouldn’t be used for medical purposes.
"I’ve heard of cement but I haven’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s things like that.
"Most of the time the injections end up having a lot of bacteria in them as well because they aren’t sterile."
