Model and footballer’s girlfriend died days after returning to UK following BBL surgery abroad

The 38 year old Playboy model, Tabby Brown, travelled to the Dominic Republic for the invasive surgery – which also required her to have liposuction – in October 2023, but on her return tragedy followed. The model, who was also in a relationship with Italian footballer Mario Balotelli for around seven months after meeting in 2011, collapsed and died just three days after returning to the UK from the Caribbean after developing a ‘fat embolism.’ She model was tragically found by her mother, Mahasin, at her South London home on October 13.

The court heard she had two “puncture wounds” in her pelvis, which confirmed she had undergone plastic surgery, reports the Mail Online. Tabby , who worked for Playboy and also appeared on The Bachelor, had kept her surgery a secret from her family, instead telling her mum she was going on a two-week trip to South America, the court heard.

Tabby’s mum Mahasin tended to her daughter on her return after she fell ill quickly on arriving home, but originally believed Tabby had picked up a viral infection whilst travelling on holiday. Her mum revealed that her daughter did not want to seek medical advice and instead insisted on taking painkillers instead.

In court, Mahasin said that Tabby “felt weak” before discovering her daughter not breathing on the floor.

Oliver Harley, a cosmetic surgeon expert, told the inquest: “Tabby travelled to the Dominican Republic for a Brazilian Butt Lift, this is where fat is harvested from the torso by liposuction and injected into the buttocks to increase their size. The BBL is known to cause potential fat embolism and death and Tabby died as a consequence.”

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Julian Morris said Tabby had “enjoyed a successful career as a model and was well liked professionally and personally”.

He added: “‘The postmortem concluded that Tabby’s cause of death was fat embolism caused by liposuction.

“Fat embolisms are a known and rare complication but can occur with this type of surgery.” The expert concluded that liposuction caused her death as fat embolisms do not occur naturally.

“She was fit and healthy, visited the Dominican Republic for surgery and on her return became unwell and collapsed, on balance the operative procedure caused her death.”

The devastated family of Tabby have paid tribute to the beautiful model, who they said was the “face of many ad campaigns for recognised brands”.

The family added: “Tabby had enjoyed a successful career as a model, having featured in music videos of several well-known British and American artists.

“She had a big laugh, smile and a personality that charmed many and matched her beauty.

“Close family and close friends take solace from the fact that she experienced many years in which she lived out her dreams.

“But we are also saddened by her premature departure, we love and miss Tabby very much and will always keep her memory close to our hearts.”

Tabby enjoyed a date with Raheem Sterling in March 2016, visiting a luxury Manchester hotel.

Her death is another in a long list of Brits who have died after going under the knife. Kaydell Brown, 38, died after paying £5,400 for the same procedure as Tabby, as well as a tummy tuck and a boob job and mum Alice Webb died in September after reportedly going under the knife in the UK.

BBL’s reshape the bum area for a rounded, perkier look but wrongly injecting too deep into the buttock can pump chemicals into the bloodstream and cause deadly clots, infections or sepsis. Allergic reactions are also a high risk as well as botched anaesthetic insertions.

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.