'Loving' mum dies after flying 1,300 miles for BBL surgery - despite family's desperate pleas

'Loving' mum dies after flying 1,300 miles for BBL surgery - despite family's desperate pleas Jennifer Arias flew from New York to Miami for a liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), but after the procedure was struggling to breathe - and eventually died A "loving" mum died after travelling 1,300 miles for cosmetic surgery, despite being warned by her family not to do it. Jennifer Arias, who was 29, flew from New York to Miami for a liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) at New Life Plastic Surgery. Hours after the procedures, however, her family was told the mother-of-one was struggling to breathe. The woman was rushed to hospital in Miami but doctors were unable to save her. Jennifer had already died by the time her devastated family made it to Florida. 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. But before she went to the clinic, Jennifer's mum, Monica Arias, had warned her against the procedures. The grandmother feared Jennifer's seven-year-old daughter would be left without a mother. She said: "I told her, don't do it, don't do it." 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 devastating news. She said: "I couldn't believe it. That's my sister. That's my best friend." The family said they were told by the surgeon, Julio Clavijo-Alvarez, that everything possible had been done. Her family is now demanding answers about the tragedy. Erika said: "She was a great mother. She definitely loved her child so much, so deeply." Monica added: "No-one will ever be able to give her a mother's love. My granddaughter has been left without that." According to local media citing civil lawsuits and state and county records, Jennifer is among at least six patients to die following surgery at the clinic since 2018. 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. Since her sister's death in August, Erika has launched a fundraiser to help support Jennifer's daughter going forward. The page reads: "Our family recently experienced an unimaginable loss with the sudden passing of my sister at only 29 years old." "She was a loving mother, daughter, sister, and friend, and her absence has left a pain that words cannot describe. Most importantly, she leaves behind her beautiful seven-year-old daughter, who now has to grow up without her mom. "Our family is doing everything we can to surround her with love, stability, and support as she goes through this heartbreaking change. We created this GoFundMe to help our family with the unexpected expenses following my sister’s passing and, most importantly, to help provide for her daughter’s needs and future."