Wildelis Rosa was more than just a New Orleans police officer she was a U.S. Army Reservist, a recent Kuwait returnee, and an aspiring FBI agent. Known for her dedication and sense of duty, Rosa was someone who “dreamed big and worked harder,” according to her sister, Anamin Vazquez. But in March 2025, her life ended abruptly after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) at Prestige Plastic Surgery in Miami a tragic outcome that’s now raising national alarm over the dangers of cosmetic tourism.
Rosa traveled to Miami on March 18, telling friends it was a birthday getaway. In reality, she had booked a BBL procedure costing $7,495 liposuction from 12 body areas with fat transferred to the buttocks. The surgery took place on March 20. According to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner, she was discharged just an hour after the operation, despite later reporting severe pain, trouble breathing, and numbness in her legs.
Three days later, on March 23, Rosa collapsed in a bathroom at her rental apartment. Her friend performed CPR, but it was too late. The manner of death was a pulmonary embolism a clot of blood that had travelled to her lungs, a known complication of BBL surgeries.
“Her death was unnecessary,”
said Vazquez.
“She had so many signs pain, numb legs, purple lips but nobody took it seriously. Let her story be a cautionary tale.”
Rosa’s death came as a shock to her loved ones. They only found out about the surgery after she had already undergone the procedure. Her sister is now urging women to research thoroughly before any cosmetic procedure and to choose safety over aesthetics.
The Brazilian Butt Lift has the highest mortality rate among cosmetic procedures, with recent U.S. estimates at around 1 in 15,000. The main dangers include fat embolism when fat enters the bloodstream and pulmonary embolism, like what claimed Rosa’s life. Experts note that high-volume, low-cost clinics in places like Miami often discharge patients quickly, with minimal aftercare.
Miami-Dade County has recorded at least 25 cosmetic surgery-related deaths in just 3½ years. Social media and influencer culture have fueled a rise in cosmetic tourism where patients travel to other cities or countries for cheaper procedures, often at the expense of safety.
Prestige Plastic Surgery, where Rosa had her operation, is now under investigation. NBC Miami reported that the clinic failed to adequately respond to Rosa’s post-op symptoms. Questions are being raised about whether rushed discharges and poor aftercare are putting lives at risk.
The clinic has so far declined to comment on Rosa’s case, saying they have “no recollection” of her file.
Rosa’s death has sparked widespread conversation online, particularly on X, where users are sharing warnings and grief.
“This can’t keep happening,”
one user posted, echoing thousands of others.
Meanwhile, organizations like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons are calling for mandatory ultrasound use during BBLs, overnight monitoring for patients, and caps on daily procedures per surgeon rules Florida has started to introduce, though enforcement remains weak.
While her dreams were cut short, Rosa’s story is now being used to warn others. Sister is encouraging greater public education and regulation on cosmetic surgery risks.
“Don’t let a discount cost you your life,”
Vazquez says.
“Ask questions, do your homework, and know that beauty should never come before health.”
