TikTok videos shared by a now-deceased Texas woman suggest the mother-of-four contracted the fatal fungal infection after receiving liposuction, a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) and a job in Mexico.
Lauren Robinson, 29, died last week after undergoing cut-price cosmetic surgeries in the Mexican city of Matamoros.
Although her cause of death was reported as meningitis, it was not known what types of procedures she underwent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that anyone who received epidural anesthesia (an injection into the spine to numb a part of the body) during surgery is at risk.
These are used in procedures such as those Mrs Robinson underwent, which can be more than $16,000 cheaper than in the US.
Ms. Robinson traveled to Mexico for liposuction, BBL and breast augmentation performed by Dr. Luis Manuel Rivera De Anda. She is pictured pe-op (left) and post-op (right)
The mother-of-four was diagnosed with meningitis after her plastic surgeries, which ultimately killed her
Ms Robinson underwent surgery on February 27. On March 3, she said in a TikTok comment, “I’m doing great!” Just a little motion sore but nothing I can’t handle.
Dr. Luis Manuel Rivera De Anda, listed as an online gynecologist, performed his operation.
Her Instagram shows a plethora of before and after pictures for Liposuction, BBLs and Breast Augmentation and promotes a full liposuction, BBL and breast augmentation deal for $5,000.
It is unclear whether Ms Robinson’s infection had anything to do with the actions of Dr Rivera De Anda.
Dr Rivera De Anda did not respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.
Shortly after her operation, Ms Robinson started having severe headaches.
Her husband, Garret Robinson, said 12News“She was awesome, the results were great, everything was fine, she started going back to work, then she started constantly telling me, ‘I have a headache, something’s wrong.’
After attending several hospitals in Galveston, Texas, doctors took spinal fluid and blood from Ms Robinson and sent her for testing.
The mother of four was then diagnosed with meningitis.
Health officials believe that fungal meningitis can be contracted if medical devices such as the needle used during an epidural or medications such as morphine are contaminated with fungi or if proper preventive control practices infections are not caught.
In her final weeks in hospital, Ms Robinson suffered four strokes. She is one of three American victims who died after cosmetic surgery in Matamoros.
Mr Robinson said: “I can’t explain what it’s like to go through this, and I can’t tell everyone enough, don’t do it.”
Three Texans have died after undergoing cosmetic surgery, including liposuction in Mexico. Health officials say the women were treated at clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, including the River Side Surgical Center (left) and Clinica K-3 (right)
Recruiters have drawn hundreds of patients from around the world and 24 U.S. states to the River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3 in Mexico, both of which are closed.
It comes after growing warnings about medical tourism, which offers deep discounts but poses dangers because the procedures are not as well regulated as in the United States.
The CDC is monitoring the condition of 184 additional people who have received epidural anesthesia (injection in the spine to numb part of the body) during plastic surgeries performed since January.
Ms Robinson showed her results two days after the operation. FUPA stands for ‘fatty upper pubic area’ and a ‘faja’ is a garment worn after BBL and liposuction to reduce swelling
But hundreds more may have been affected due to Mexico’s booming medical tourism industry, which sees an estimated 1.2 million Americans travel south each year for affordable care, and a number even greater number of international patients.
Ms Robinson in hospital, where she suffered four strokes
The CDC and its equivalent in Mexico have asked the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the situation a health emergency, which could see the global agency deploy resources to track and isolate cases, quarantine contact and control passengers at the border.
Recruiters have drawn hundreds of patients from around the world and 24 U.S. states to River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3 in Mexico, both of which have been closed, for procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation or the Brazilian butt lift.
Two of the cases were confirmed after the fungus was detected in samples.
Fourteen of the cases are suspected of fungal meningitis – infections of the brain and spinal cord – and 11 are probable.
Patients have reported symptoms including headache, fever, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and sensitivity to light.
The infection causes swelling of the protective membrane around the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges.
The map above shows the location of Matamoros, where the proceedings took place. People are advised not to go there for plastic surgeries
Some 1.2 million U.S. residents travel to Mexico each year for elective surgery at a discount, according to Medical Tourism Mexico, which says patients can save up to 80% on a comparable procedure in the U.S. .
The CDC has warned that once symptoms appear, meningitis can quickly become fatal.
Test results from Mexican authorities have raised concerns that a deadly fungal outbreak linked to clinics elsewhere in Mexico that occurred earlier in the year could happen again. Nearly half of all patients diagnosed with meningitis died during this epidemic.
The CDC has urged anyone having reserved treatment in Matamoros that involves an epidural injection to cancel the procedure.
All but 17 of the people being monitored by the CDC live in Texas, and the majority are women.
One of the two patients who died was also an organ donor, putting five different recipients across the country at risk.
US health bosses have called for the deadly fungal outbreak to be declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organization.
