Authorities Probe Illegal Clinic After Colombian Influencer Dies During Cosmetic Procedure
Colombian digital creator Adriana Manotas Rodriguez has died after undergoing a liposuction procedure at an allegedly unlicensed cosmetic clinic in Bogotá, sparking renewed concerns over the dangers of illegal aesthetic surgeries.
The 52-year-old, who had built an online community of more than 23,000 Facebook followers through lifestyle and personal content, underwent the procedure on July 10. News of her death was confirmed the following day by her close friend, Lorena Zuluaga Quintero, who shared an emotional tribute on social media.
Security camera footage reportedly showed Rodriguez arriving at the clinic early that morning before later being carried out by three people and placed inside a van. She was rushed to a nearby medical facility, where she was pronounced dead.
Her death triggered an immediate response from Colombian authorities. Officials from the Health Secretariat, the Attorney General’s Office, and the National Police raided the clinic the same day and allegedly found evidence that cosmetic procedures were being performed without the necessary legal authorisation.
Investigators also disclosed that both the clinic and the doctor linked to the operation had previously been sanctioned in November for operating without the required licences.
Authorities said the earlier restrictions were intended to protect public health but were allegedly ignored as the clinic continued offering cosmetic procedures.
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Galán urged residents to report any unlicensed beauty centres operating in the city, warning that such facilities continue to put lives at risk.
Following the announcement of Rodriguez’s death, tributes poured in across her social media pages as friends, followers, and fellow creators remembered her with heartfelt messages.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over cosmetic procedures carried out at unregistered clinics, with experts and authorities urging people to verify the credentials of medical practitioners and facilities before undergoing elective surgery.
