By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-04-01 21:23:12 | Updated at 2025-04-02 23:08:42
1 day ago
A mother who traveled to Miami for plastic surgery has died following her procedure.
Ahmonique Miller, 28, traveled to the city from Nevada on March 5 with her sister who also got cosmetic work.
The surgery reportedly went well, and they were discharged to a recovery home to be monitored for complications.
But the next day, the sister — Kiera Barnes — woke up to find Ms Miller's body cold and still in the same position as when they fell asleep.
Social media posts suggest Ms Miller received a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), a procedure that involves transferring fat from the abdomen, thighs and hips to the buttocks to increase its size.
The procedure is notorious because of the risk of a fat embolism, where fat cells pass into the bloodstream and travel to the lungs, heart or other organs causing a serious clot and death.
Ms Barnes says she believes her sister died from an adverse reaction to a medication given to her at the recovery home.
Ms Barnes and Ms Miller received their procedures at Avana Plastic Surgery in Miami.
BBLs are a popular procedure in the US, with more than 29,300 carried out in 2023 alone — up three percent from the year before.
Ahmonique Miller, 28, died after traveling from Nevada to Miami to receive a cosmetic procedure. She was a new mother to a one-year-old
Ms Barnes has said online that both sisters were initially scheduled to be operated on by the same surgeon.
But beforehand, Ms Miller reportedly switched to a different surgeon.
The pair received cosmetic surgery on March 6, and were then discharged to a recovery house — called Keyla's Recovery House and also in Miami.
It is alleged that on March 7, the center gave Ms Miller medication that she had not been prescribed. She was found dead several hours later.
It is not clear what medication she received, but typically patients are given strong painkillers.
The family is now awaiting a toxicology report to help determine Ms Miller's cause of death.
The family's lawyer, Frantz 'Jahra' McLawrence, told DailyMail.com: 'It is alleged that on March 7, 2025, [staff at the recovery home] provided our client with un-prescribed pain medication that caused her death.
'The police claim to be investigating this matter, but communication with the Miami Police Department has been sparse and almost non-existent.'
Ms Miller died in the recovery home that is used after surgery to monitor for any complications
He added: 'Recovering from post operation should not equal a death sentence.
'Ahmonique Miller should be alive with her one-year-old daughter, running her business. Instead, she is dead due to being provided un-prescribed medication while at [the recovery house].'
Posts online before Ms Miller's death show the pair arriving in Miami in a video tagged, 'BBL round 2'.
Ms Miller also operated two small businesses in Las Vegas with multiple employees and was an aspiring music artist.
Her mother Wakeelah Miller said on Facebook: 'My daughter, Ahmonique, has passed away.
'She was my firstborn, my ladybug, my whole life. Please allow me time to process this loss and begin to heal.'
A vigil was held for Ahmonique at home, and there has also been a balloon release.
A spokeswoman for Avana Plastic Surgery told DailyMail.com it had 'no comment' and added that 'we need to respect the family's privacy at this time'.
In response to an inquiry from the Miami Herald, the recovery house's attorney Bob Pardo said: 'It would be improper for us to comment at this time; Our condolences to the family of the deceased.'
