Brazilian beauty queen Raquel Santos dies after cosmetic surgery to remove wrinkles

The 28-year-old was allegedly 'obsessed' with cosmetic surgery

Alexandra Sims
Thursday 14 January 2016 11:44 GMT
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Model Raquel Santos suffered cardiac arrest after a cosmetic procedure on Monday
Model Raquel Santos suffered cardiac arrest after a cosmetic procedure on Monday

A model and finalist in one of Brazil’s largest beauty pageants has died after undergoing cosmetic surgery, the pageant's organisers have confirmed.

Raquel Santos died after suffering cardiac arrest on Monday night just hours after undergoing a simple cosmetic procedure known as the "Chinese" Moustache to fill in wrinkles around her mouth.

Gilberto Azevedo, her husband, said Ms Santas experienced a rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties after having the procedure at a hospital in Niteroi, near Rio de Janeiro.

The model was taken to another medical centre in the same city where she died.

The 28-year-old was a finalist in the 2015 Musa do Brasil contest and was due undertake modelling work in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Musa do Brazil said in a statement.

Musa do Brasil said: “We deeply regret her dream was interrupted.

“Just like us, all the candidates are in shock.”

Ms Santos' friend, Debora Azevedo, allegedly told Brazil's G1 website the model was “very concerned about her looks” and "obsessed" with cosmetic surgery, adding she “did every aesthetic procedure imaginable.”

According to Midia News, Ms Santos’ burial was interrupted on Tuesday by Rio de Janeiro police in order for an autopsy to be undertaken to investigate the cause of death.

The autopsy was reportedly completed on Wednesday, however her body has not been released due to a dispute over whether Ms Santos was dead upon her arrival at the hospital.

According to reports the clinic's doctor claims Ms Santos was alive when she was taken to hospital, however the hospital have disputed this.

Wagner Moraes, the surgeon who carried out the procedure, defended the operation and suggested the complications occurred due to Ms Santos’ alleged use of the animal steroid injection, Potenay and her heavy smoking, Midia News reports.

Ms Santos, originally from Rio de Janeiro and who represented Mato Grosso state in the beauty contest, was the mother of two sons aged seven and 13.

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