A mum-of-one died after travelling 1,300 miles for cosmetic surgery – despite her mother begging her not to go under the knife.
Jennifer Arias flew from New York to Florida for liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) at New Life Plastic Surgery on 13 August.
But hours after the operation, her family received a devastating call saying she was struggling to breathe.
READ MORE: Family of Brit who allegedly ‘paid’ man to kill her can’t afford trial
Jennifer, 29, was rushed to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, but despite the best efforts of doctors, they were unable to save her.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death an accident, stating she had suffered fat embolisms in both lungs as a result of the surgeries.
Her mum, Monica Arias, had desperately tried to talk her out of the procedure, fearing her seven-year-old granddaughter would be left without a mother.
“I told her, don’t do it, don’t do it,” Monica recalled.
She said she had warned Jennifer: “If something happens to you, what will happen to your daughter?”
Jennifer’s sister, Erika Arias, said she received a text from her sibling at 4.18am on the day of the operation, telling her she was heading into surgery.
Hours later, she received the alarming news.
The family said they were told by the surgeon, Julio Clavijo-Alvarez, that everything possible had been done.
By the time they reached Miami, Jennifer had died.
“I couldn’t believe it. That’s my sister. That’s my best friend,” Erika said.
Her father, Wilson Arias, recalled being told at the hospital that Jennifer had arrived alive but could not be saved.
Now, her family is demanding answers as they try to come to terms with the loss of a woman they describe as a devoted mother.
“She was a great mother. She definitely loved her child so much, so deeply,” Erika said.
Monica added: “No one will ever be able to give her a mother’s love. My granddaughter has been left without that.”
An investigation by local media found that Jennifer was at least the sixth patient to die following surgery at New Life Plastic Surgery since 2018, after reviewing civil lawsuits and state and county records.
One of the previous cases involved Naimy Sucetz, 41, who died in 2022 after undergoing liposuction and a tummy tuck at the clinic. Her death was attributed to a blood clot in her lungs, and Clavijo-Alvarez was also her surgeon.
The surgeon has faced at least four lawsuits since 2020 alleging inadequate medical care caused injuries or complications. He denied the allegations in court documents.
In 2024, Florida’s medical board reprimanded him and fined him $15,000 (£11,200) to resolve three administrative complaints. As part of the agreement, he neither admitted nor denied the allegations.
New Life has denied responsibility in court filings relating to two previous patient deaths, arguing in part that the doctors involved were independent contractors.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that its Homicide Bureau is investigating Jennifer’s death, as reported by Need To Know.
Jennifer’s family has launched a GoFundMe appeal to help cover unexpected expenses and provide for her daughter’s needs and future.
In the appeal, Erika said the family was doing everything it could to give the seven-year-old love, stability and support as she faces life without her mum.
She added: “Everything we do moving forward is for her daughter and in honour of the mother she loved so deeply.”
READ MORE: FedEx driver in smoke-filled ‘hotbox’ van ‘removed from service’
