A coroner has urged surgeons conducting the "Brazilian butt lift" to consider whether it is safe to continue to offer the operation following the death of a Leeds mother-of-three.
Leah Cambridge, 29 , saved up thousands of pounds to have the procedure done in Izmir, Turkey, last August after feeling "paranoid about her body" .
But the beautician died while undergoing the controversial operation, where fat is removed from certain areas of the body, including the stomach and back, and then transferred into the buttocks to achieve an hourglass figure.
Her inquest at Wakefield Coroner's Court heard how she booked the surgery against the wishes of her partner , Scott Franks, through a company named Elite Aftercare, which offers clients a package that includes a stay in a villa.
Recording a conclusion that Miss Cambridge died having the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) after not being fully appraised of the risks involved, coroner Kevin McLoughlin said: "Against this backdrop, those involved in facilitating or conducting BBL procedures must decide whether it's safe to continue to do so .
"In my judgement, this decision should be made on ethical grounds, rather than business ones relating to the revenue streams involved."
'Seek out independent medical advice. Make sure you fully understand the risks'
He added: "At the very least, anyone thinking of submitting themselves to the hazards associated with the BBL should seek out independent medical advice. Make sure that you fully understand the risks before you proceed."
In October last year, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) advised its members not to perform the operation until could be obtained.
A consultant plastic surgeon told the inquest on Thursday that any UK-wide ban on the operation could prompt potential customers to go abroad to have it done.
Discussing this, Mr McLoughlin said: "I believe that our foremost duty is to protect our citizens from what maybe is considered to be their own folly.
"If the approach that I am considering involves a paternalistic despotism, the process of curtailing individual freedom may be considered to be a price worth paying
"What's more, if the UK takes a stance this may affect the prevailing view from other countries."
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