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A 35-year-old Canadian woman has died after undergoing cosmetic surgery in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, prompting authorities to open a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Jessika Chagnon Gailloux, a mother of four from Quebec, traveled to Türkiye for a tummy tuck and breast lift procedure at a private hospital in Antalya. Her condition reportedly deteriorated shortly after the operation.
Despite efforts by medical staff to stabilize her, Gailloux died at around 4 p.m. on March 7, according to The Sun.
Authorities have transferred her body to the Antalya Forensic Medicine Institution for an autopsy as investigators attempt to determine the exact cause of death.
Police in Antalya confirmed that investigators and crime scene teams examined the hospital following the incident.
A spokesperson for Antalya police said initial checks found no signs of physical trauma unrelated to the operation.
“During the checks by the crime scene investigation teams, it was learned that Gailloux had no cuts, stab wounds, or gunshot wounds on her body other than surgical stitch marks related to the operation,” the spokesperson said.
Officials said investigators are reviewing Gailloux’s health condition before the procedure as well as her activities in the days leading up to the surgery.
Authorities are also examining claims that Gailloux and a friend who traveled with her may have used narcotic substances prior to arriving in Türkiye.
“Investigators are currently trying to determine whether she had consumed narcotic substances before she died,” the police spokesperson added.
Her body remains at the forensic institute, where specialists will conduct a full autopsy.
Gailloux’s friend, Ericka, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the four children she left behind.
“Jessika was an extraordinary woman and a deeply loving mother,” Ericka wrote in a tribute.
“Her sudden loss leaves a huge void in the lives of all those who loved her, but especially in that of her children.”
Türkiye has become a major destination for medical tourism, attracting patients from Europe and North America seeking lower-cost cosmetic and medical procedures.
Turkish health authorities have urged prospective patients to research clinics and medical providers carefully and say they are working to ensure hospitals and clinics hold the required licenses and documentation.
The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issued an advisory after seven British nationals died following cosmetic procedures in Türkiye last year, according to British media reports.
British Health Secretary Wes Streeting previously urged travelers to think carefully before booking procedures advertised at extremely low prices.
“I would urge Brits before traveling abroad to think very carefully before accessing those cosmetic treatments that are currently being marketed at rock bottom prices,” he said.
Investigators in Antalya have not yet announced the cause of Gailloux’s death, and authorities say the case remains under review pending the results of the autopsy.
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