Colombia reports 13 deaths in Bogotá due to aesthetic procedures

A report from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Hospital Universitario Nacional de Colombia reveals that 13 women have died in Bogotá this year due to failed aesthetic procedures. Between 2023 and 2026, over 450 complaints were filed regarding aesthetic processes, with 68% of these cases linked to illegal centers operating without legal authorization or scientific oversight.

Data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (Isaps) shows that Colombia performed 459,360 aesthetic procedures in 2025. Approximately 70% of these were surgical, totaling 331,392 interventions. Liposuction was the most common surgical procedure, accounting for 10.5% of all surgeries, followed by breast lifts and breast augmentations. Colombia ranked 14th globally in total aesthetic procedures and 12th in surgical procedures among 51 surveyed countries.