{"id":16881,"date":"2025-06-30T20:45:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T00:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/?p=16881"},"modified":"2025-06-30T20:45:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T00:45:48","slug":"officer-dies-after-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/06\/30\/officer-dies-after-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Officer Dies After Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to a Tragic Event<\/h2>\n

A young police officer who traveled to Miami from Louisiana for cosmetic surgery in March died just days later. NBC6 Investigates learned she is one of dozens of people, mostly women, who have died in Miami-Dade County after cosmetic procedures in recent years.<\/p>\n

The Life of Wildelis Rosa<\/h2>\n

Wildelis Rosa was 26 years old and had already accomplished so much. \u201cVery bright and promising future.\u201d That\u2019s how Rosa\u2019s sister, Anamin Vazquez, talks about her. Rosa was serving her community as a police officer in the city of New Orleans. She also served her country overseas in the Army Reserves. \u201cShe had just come back from a deployment to Kuwait as a U.S. Army Reservist,\u201d Vazquez said. She says Rosa, the youngest of five siblings, had even bigger dreams for the future. \u201cShe wanted to work for the FBI,\u201d Vazquez said, \u201cSo, she clearly had a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Decision for Cosmetic Surgery<\/h2>\n

But Vazquez says no one in the family knew about Rosa\u2019s plans to get cosmetic surgery when she told them she was taking a birthday trip to Miami in March. The family says she arrived in South Florida on March 18, and the following day, she went to Prestige Plastic Surgery Clinic on Coral Way for pre-operative blood work. According to this invoice shared by Rosa\u2019s sister, the procedure included liposuction and fat transfer injections, commonly known as BBL, short for Brazilian butt lift. It shows Rosa paid $7,495 to have fat removed from 12 areas and injected into her backside at Prestige.<\/p>\n

The Tragic Outcome<\/h2>\n

Vazquez says Rosa told the family about the surgery three days later – on Saturday. \u201cYou know we had just that feeling in our guts like something is wrong,\u201d she said, \u201cI texted her and I said, \u2018I hope you\u2019re doing okay you\u2019re enjoying your birthday.\u2019 But there was no answer back.\u201d By the following morning on March 23, Rosa was dead. According to a report from the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner\u2019s Officer, a friend staying with Rosa at a short-term rental on SW 24th Street discovered her unresponsive and started CPR, but it was too late. The cause of death: a pulmonary embolism from blood clots associated with cosmetic surgery.<\/p>\n

Investigation and Findings<\/h2>\n

An investigator at the ME\u2019s office noted it\u2019s a common complication and there were no obvious signs of neglect. Notes from the medical examiner\u2019s investigation detail the hours and days following Rosa\u2019s surgery. According to her friend, she was discharged about an hour after the procedure. At a follow-up appointment the next day, she complained of \u201cextreme pain.\u201d Back at the short-term rental, her blood pressure dropped, and she appeared to have difficulty breathing. \u201cThings took a turn Saturday. That’s when she fell\u201d, her sister said, \u201cShe went to the bathroom, and she fell down.\u201d On Saturday, at a follow-up massage appointment, her friend said she was pale, with dilated pupils and her lips were purple, adding, she later complained of no sensation in her legs or feet.<\/p>\n

A Pattern of Concern<\/h2>\n

NBC6 Investigates has learned over the last three and a half years, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner\u2019s Office has certified 25 deaths related to cosmetic surgery, involving several different doctors and clinics. All but two of them were women. \u201cThere have been too many deaths too close together to raise a huge flag and say wait a minute,\u201d Vazquez said. It\u2019s that message she hopes reaches others considering procedures without understanding the risks, and that the loss of her own sister might help someone else\u2019s. \u201cI just, I want her death to be if anything, a cautionary tale for those who are thinking of having these surgeries,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Response from Prestige Plastic Surgery<\/h2>\n

The Medical Examiner\u2019s Office ruled the manner of death an accident. When contacted by phone, a representative from Prestige Plastic Surgery said they did not recall Wildelis Rosa\u2019s case. They did not answer specific questions but said they follow all protocols for safety before and after procedures.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The death of Wildelis Rosa serves as a tragic reminder of the risks associated with cosmetic surgery. While the desire to improve one\u2019s appearance can be strong, it is crucial for individuals to carefully consider these risks and ensure they are fully informed before proceeding with any surgical procedure. The loss of Rosa, a young and promising individual, underscores the importance of caution and awareness in the pursuit of cosmetic enhancements.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n