A MUM was left fighting for her life after having weight loss surgery in Colombia.

Beatrix Searles, from Montana, US, forked out £3,300 ($4,000) on liposuction last October.

6 Beatrix Searles was left fighting for her life after having weight loss surgery in Colombia Credit: Caters News Agency

6 The 53-year-old has been left with nasty scarring after the £3,300 op Credit: Caters News Agency

Rotting flesh turned black

But just days after the operation, the 53-year-old said the flesh around her wound began to rot, and turned black.

Beatrix has since undergone seven surgeries - to try and rectify her "botched" surgery abroad and has been left with nasty scars across her tummy, after her stitches burst open.

She claims doctors told her surgeons in Colombia could have failed to follow medical hygiene procedures.

Beatrix, a truck driver, said: "I chose Colombia because when I researched, it was the country that specialised in the surgery I wanted and they did it at reasonable prices.

“Yet as my skin started to blacked and die, I was on so much pain medication that I couldn’t feel anything - I just knew something was really badly wrong.

"My skin completely died and I've been left in constant pain."

Desperate for answers

Beatrix said she begged doctors in Columbia for answers.

"The surgeon originally tried to fix what he'd done by using skin from my back and pulling it forward," Beatrix said.

"But it went stiff and sore, and I needed hospital treatment to try and rectify that.

"Yet now, no-one can locate the surgeon who did this to me, he's essentially missing in action. The last I heard he had 34 cases being held against him."

Confidence boost

Beatrix weighed 13 stone when she decided to have the op, to boost her confidence.

After researching her options, she settled on lipo on her leg, stomach and back.

"I watched the surgery on their various YouTube channels and videos, and I thought I knew what I was expecting," she said.

I just knew something was really badly wrong.My skin completely died and I've been left in constant pain Beatrix Searles

"But while I was under, they literally cut the fat off my stomach and stitched me back up.

"Yet there was so much missing - the nurses providing the aftercare used the same gloves for things like using their phone.

"I wasn't provided with anything that I'd seen on the videos, like plastic wrapping over the surgery or a body suit to protect it.

"By the second day, it was red, inflamed and you could see - the skin was dying."



Corrective surgery

Beatrix was forced to undergo a further seven operations following on from the original liposuction in October 2018 - which included skin grafts and drainage - in order to try and fix the gaping hole that had been left by the dead skin.

Beatrix added: "The hospital in Columbia tried to oxygenate the skin but it had turned completely black.

"To have eight surgeries, with constant needles, with me even spending my birthday in hospital - I've been so scared and have spent most of my recovery crying all of the time.

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"This has destroyed my confidence - it's been like torture.

"I can't look like this forever - I feel like I can't go out into public or wear a bikini or go to the beach.

"It's destroyed my life and I hope those responsible get brought to justice."

6 Beatrix has had to have seven corrective ops to try and fix her tummy Credit: Caters News Agency

6 She said her skin started to turn black and die shortly after the first op in October last year Credit: Caters News Agency

6 Beatrix booked to have liposuction but didn't expect surgeons to cut away the fat from her tummy. Not long after the op it turned black as her flesh rotted away Credit: Caters News Agency