Adriana Manotas' death spurs Bogotá crackdown on illegal aesthetic clinics

Adriana Manotas, a 52‑year‑old woman, died in July 2026 after complications from an illegal aesthetic procedure performed in a clandestine centre located in a residence in the Puente Aranda district of Bogotá. The site was registered as a hair‑salon/beauty centre, lacked any health‑service licence, and the person listed as its legal representative was not a qualified health professional.

District health authorities, the Fiscalía General, and the police have opened a criminal investigation. Earlier inspections by the Secretaría de Salud had already imposed preventive administrative measures on the premises, yet the establishment apparently continued operating. Officials are gathering evidence to determine responsibility and to assess whether health‑regulation violations occurred.

Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán publicly urged citizens to report illegal clinics and to verify that any aesthetic procedure is performed in a centre listed in the Registro Especial de Prestadores de Servicios de Salud (REPS) and by professionals registered in the Registro Único Nacional del Talento Humano en Salud (RETUS). The family of Manotas has demanded swift answers and accountability. The case follows a similar death weeks earlier, reigniting debate over the need for stricter oversight of low‑cost aesthetic services in Colombia.