Autopsy confirms Lucy Wambui’s death linked to botched liposuction

According to an autopsy report released on Sunday by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, Wambui had a "360-degree liposuction"  procedure on October 16, 2024, at Omnicare Medical.

However, within two days, she began experiencing complications, including chest pain, difficulty breathing, and abdominal pain. 

According to the autopsy report, Wambui's complications progressed rapidly.

Despite persistent pain and other troubling symptoms, she was discharged from Omnicare Medical on October 22, after being initially diagnosed with pneumonia and parapneumonic effusion.

Her condition deteriorated further, so she sought treatment at Nairobi Hospital, where her blood pressure was critically low at 70/40 mmHg.

Medical examinations revealed numerous complications, including a severely distended abdomen, signs of sepsis, and bruising throughout the body.

Laboratory tests revealed significantly elevated inflammation markers, a high white blood cell count, and signs of renal distress, all of which indicated a systemic infection.

Wambui underwent emergency surgery (laparotomy) at Nairobi Hospital on October 23, during which surgeons discovered multiple perforations in her intestines as well as faecal matter in her abdominal cavity.

To control the infection, they performed an ileostomy, which is an emergency procedure that bypasses the damaged intestines.

Despite aggressive treatment with antibiotics, vasopressors, and fluid management, her condition worsened, resulting in her death on October 26 from severe sepsis and peritonitis.

The autopsy results confirmed Wambui's extensive internal complications following her liposuction. 

Key findings included lung oedema, fat necrosis in her abdominal cavity, and widespread inflammation, as well as multiple abscesses indicating infection.

Her liver showed signs of fatty degeneration, and her heart was enlarged, both of which could be indicators of systemic stress caused by the infection or physical trauma.

Dr. Oduor's report, which included detailed descriptions of Wambui's physical condition, stated that the abdominal wounds from the initial liposuction procedure were septic and had fluid oozing from them.

According to the report, Wambui's body showed signs of bruising on her face, chest, abdomen, and legs, which could be due to trauma or post-surgical complications.

Liposuction, which involves the removal of excess fat from the body, and BBL procedures, which improve the shape of the buttocks by re-injecting the patient's own fat, have grown in popularity around the world, but they are known to be dangerous, especially when performed outside of strict medical guidelines.

Wambui's case has highlighted the growing popularity — and risks — of cosmetic surgery procedures in Kenya, where inadequate regulation and oversight of aesthetic clinics have raised concerns.