Trans woman dies after illegal backstreet surgery

[Ayla]

www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/transgender-woman-dies-after-undergoing-7632400


A young transgender woman has died after undergoing illegal backstreet bum implant surgery.

Friends said Yessika Hilton desperately wanted a more shapely rear but could not afford buttock implants from a professional clinic.

Instead, the 25-year-old paid for the plastic surgery at an illegal backstreet clinic - in a garage in Colombia.

Yessika, from the small town of Florida in Colombia’s south-western Valle del Cauca Department, had polymers injected into her buttocks.

But as the injection was being administered, the chemicals leaked and spread around her body, causing cardiorespiratory failure.

The cowboy practitioners performing the operation realised something had gone horribly wrong and called an ambulance to the garage.

The young woman was rushed to the Colombia Clinic in the nearby city of Cali, but died hours later.

Yessika was a member of the Mesa de Genero Colombia (the Colombia Gender Board) - an organisation that unites activists fighting for gender equality.

Local LGBT community representative, Samuel Cano, said: "The intervention was done on Friday in an improvised garage. She was then taken to the Colombia Clinic in Cali where she died."

Her friend, Jannysk Filigrana, posted on Facebook: "My friend, you were a great fighter for the rights to inclusion for all in our society.

"Today you are not here with us, but wherever you are, I will always remember you like a dear friend and I will never forget you."

Police are investigating the incident.  

[EchelonHunt]

I've heard horror stories of transgender people resorting to backyard or alleyway surgeries. It's not just surgery either but black market HRT as well.

Not just transfolk, but also cisfolks who didn't know any better, didn't do any research and they went to a beauty salon, ending up with third-degree burns and scarring for life, or they went to a surgeon who did a botch job, resulting in them being permanently disfigured.

It's not worth it. It's not worth the risk of losing your life or leaving yourself disfigured by giving in to desperation and failing to do adequate research before making a critical decision.

It took me not even five minutes after Googling "Columbia butt implant costs" to find a website where there was a question about silicone butt injections, there were 5 surgeons who discouraged the use of silicone injections as it is too dangerous, has uncontrollable side effects and is irreversible process, so the silicone cannot be removed should anything bad happens. Many said doing butt lifts or butt implants were the better, preferred and much safer alternative. They all also made a point to say DO NOT go black market but to instead, go to a legally recognised plastic/cosmetic surgeon.

I won't even risk going to a local surgeon with substandard results, I want the best possible result done by a competent surgeon who has performed multiple procedures and is experienced in what they do.

I require my surgery done by a surgeon who cares about my wellbeing, not a surgeon (or a hack job or that matter) who only cares about the money rather than the end result.

I'm sorry she lost her life, it's horrible. From the pictures of the cliche bedroom set-up, it looks as though she may have resorted to live strip chat shows to get funds. Whether this is true or not, I'm not sure but it's the impression I get from the photos.

That set-up is all too familiar and sadly, it's a harsh reality for many transgender women who cannot get employment for whatever reasons.

It is a shame. A damn crying shame. It was a situation that could have been easily avoided but it happened and sadly, she becomes yet another statistic of why nobody should ever resort to undergoing illegal procedures in backyards/alleyways/dingy garages.

[Deleted]

You're right, Jacey. This isn't a bad option. It's no option at all. We all know the why behind it. But it still doesn't make it an option.