Rome – A dream of beauty transformed into a fatal agony: Milena Mancini, a 50-year-old real estate entrepreneur from Isola del Liri, in the province of Frosinone, died yesterday at Istanbul University Hospital after a 20-day desperate battle in intensive care.
The mother of two daughters had opted for liposuction at a private Turkish clinic, attracted by the low prices and promises of perfect results. But a possible "unforeseen event" during the procedure—an accidental stomach injury, according to unconfirmed medical sources—triggered irreversible complications, reviving the spotlight on the deadly dangers of medical tourism, especially in unsuitable facilities where safety standards and post-operative follow-up often leave much to be desired.
Born into a prominent family in the Ciociaria industrial fabric, Milena was the daughter of Alvaro Mancini, one of the founders and managers of Indexa SpA, a leading company in industrial maintenance services.
Her sisters embody a portrait of excellence: Rita, a renowned biologist who teaches at La Sapienza University in Rome; Sara, who ran an ice cream shop at the entrance to Isola del Liri. Milena, meanwhile, had chosen the real estate career path, building a solid career between Lazio and Abruzzo.
The family is considering legal action
The funeral is expected in the next few days in Isola del Liri, while the family is evaluating legal action against the clinic, awaiting an autopsy report that will clarify what happened and what caused the entrepreneur's death.
Liposuction, one of the most requested procedures in the boom in cosmetic surgery (over 300 procedures performed annually in Italy alone, according to the Italian Society of Plastic Surgery), promises to sculpt the body by removing localized fat.
But when performed in unregulated settings like many Turkish clinics – often only locally accredited and lacking EU certification – the risks explode.
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Turkey, a favorite destination for "beauty tourism"
In Turkey, a favorite destination for "beauty tourism" thanks to costs up to 80% lower than in Europe (a liposuction costs 3-4 euros compared to 6-8 in Italy), the statistics are alarming: from 2019 to 2024, at least 28 British patients died from complications following elective procedures, including liposuction and gynecological procedures, often due to sepsis or post-operative failure.
Similar cases affect Italians: in the last two years alone, at least five deaths of compatriots have been reported after procedures in Istanbul, including rhinoplasties and liposuction, resulting in complaints of medical negligence.
The problem lies precisely in "unsuitable structures": clinics that operate at industrial rates (up to 50 patients per surgeon per day), with doctors not always specialized in reconstructive plastic surgery, and understaffed intensive care units.
"Follow-up is crucial: in Turkey, many patients are discharged after 24 hours, without adequate checks, and repatriated on flights that aggravate the bleeding," explains Professor Giovanni Nicoletti, president of SICPRE (Italian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery).
Regulatory differences amplify the dangers: while the EU has the MDR for medical devices and mandatory audits, in Turkey supervision is fragmented, with clinics attracting European clients by aggressive social media marketing. A recent DW documentary documented the "dark side" of this boom: deaths are rising 30% annually, with patients left to manage emergencies alone or entrusted to overburdened local healthcare systems. Milena's story is not an isolated one.
Just this year, an investigation by Corriere della Sera revealed how the "journey of hope" turns into a trap for hundreds of Italians, with the Italian National Health Service absorbing the costs of repatriation and treatment (over 10 million euros annually). Experts like Nicoletti are making an appeal: "Always check for JCI or ISO accreditation, consult a local surgeon first, and take out specific insurance. Beauty isn't worth life."
As the Mancini family mourns an irreparable loss, this tragedy raises an urgent question: is it time for an EU blacklist of high-risk clinics, or awareness campaigns to stem the haemorrhage of victims? In an age of Instagram filters and "perfect" bodies, the warning is clear: cosmetic surgery saves lives when ethical, but kills when commercial. For Milena, all that remains is the regret of a "yes" said too lightly.
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