A Brazilian influencer’s social media updates celebrating a personal milestone took a tragic turn when she passed away days later following complications from cosmetic surgery.
Derleya Alves, 26, a mother and Instagram influencer from Marabá, Brazil, died on February 28, eight days after undergoing a breast augmentation procedure, according to People. Alves, who had roughly 27,000 followers, began experiencing severe abdominal pain shortly after the surgery on February 20, prompting emergency medical care.
Alves was admitted to Marabá Municipal Hospital after her condition worsened. She underwent multiple tests and two additional surgeries in an effort to stabilize her, during which doctors repaired portions of her intestines and removed one of her ovaries. Despite these interventions, Alves did not recover.
Hospital officials noted a “possible congenital intestinal abnormality” that may have contributed to the severity of her condition. Authorities confirmed there is currently no evidence of medical malpractice. A biopsy report is expected later this month, and the official cause of death has not yet been released. It remains unclear where Alves initially underwent her breast augmentation.
In the days leading up to the surgery, Alves shared heartfelt posts with her followers. In a February 22 video filmed with her mother, she prayed before the operation. “I put everything in the hands of my Father in Heaven because without Him I am nothing,” she wrote in Portuguese. “I cried a lot… but I knew everything would be alright because I knew God was with me.” The post was captioned, “Another dream coming true.” Another post showed Alves’ mother helping her during the early stages of recovery.
Alves’ sister, Jessica, paid tribute on Instagram on March 2, posting photos of the sisters together over the years. She described Alves as a “wonderful woman” and wrote in Portuguese, “You were and always will be my other half, my favorite person in the world.” Alves’ wake and burial were held on March 1.
Breast augmentation remains one of the most popular cosmetic procedures worldwide, but health agencies continue to monitor potential risks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has identified rare but serious complications associated with certain implants, including Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a cancer linked primarily to textured implants. More than 1,200 cases and dozens of deaths have been reported globally as of mid-2024. The FDA has also highlighted rare cases of squamous cell carcinoma developing in scar tissue around implants.
Medical experts caution that combining multiple procedures or undergoing surgery without thorough preoperative evaluation can increase the risk of complications.
