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Cop dies after struggling ‘extreme diarrhoea’ from surgical procedure to take away breast implants

Rebecca DePaula, 31, died after she developed a bacterial infection following surgery to have her breast implants removed in the Dominican Republic

Rebecca DePaula

Rebecca DePaula has died after surgery to remove her breast implants(Image: Jam Press/@nydo_1993)

A police officer has died after undergoing surgery to have her breast implants removed. Rebecca DePaula passed away in the early hours of Sunday (2 August), days after travelling to the Dominican Republic for the procedure.

The 31-year-old, from New York, had told her family she wanted the implants removed on medical advice because of concerns about her health. The operation was carried out at a clinic in Santo Domingo. The mum-of-three’s relatives told Dominican media she developed a bacterial infection following the surgery.

They allege the infection caused severe diarrhoea, leading to serious complications. After her condition rapidly deteriorated, she was rushed back to the clinic. Her mother claims she was initially told her daughter was in a critical condition, but by the time she arrived at the clinic she was informed that Rebecca had died.

Rebecca DePaula developed a bacterial infection after the surgery

Rebecca DePaula developed a bacterial infection after the surgery

As well as serving with the New York City Police Department, Rebecca was a Christian pastor alongside her husband. According to her family she had spent the past four years preaching and serving her community.

She leaves behind three children and a family now calling for an investigation into whether negligence or any irregularities in her medical care contributed to her death.

Her body was taken to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences before being repatriated to the United States for burial.

Her death comes amid growing concern over cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic, where several patient deaths in recent months have prompted criminal investigations and renewed scrutiny of private clinics.

Rebecca DePaula

The New York Dominican Officers Organization has said the officer’s kindness will not be forgotten

Paying tribute, the New York Dominican Officers Organization said: “Her kindness, her service and memory will never be forgotten.”

The development comes after a young woman claims she was left permanently disfigured after going to hospital for what she thought would be a tiny cosmetic tweak.

Chinese national, Xiaoyu, booked herself in for a supposedly minor operation after growing self-conscious of what she saw as a protruding chin.

She wanted to have her chin pushed back a small 2mm. However the doctors did the total opposite, moving her jaw more than 13mm forward and leaving her face and head dramatically altered.

The operation is also said to have punctured a tooth root and twisted her septum, making it difficult for her to breathe through her nose.

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