Andreia Vieira Gaspar Cosmetic Surgery Death Scandal Explained

Tracking the controversy surrounding the death of 51-year-old Brazilian businesswoman Andreia Vieira Gaspar after she underwent a lengthy series of facial cosmetic procedures at Hospital Ankar in Goiânia, Brazil. Gaspar’s family alleges medical negligence and inadequate emergency care, while the hospital and physician Lessandro Martins deny wrongdoing and say they are cooperating with authorities. The Goiás Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested a police investigation into possible negligent homicide.

The Cosmetic Surgery

Gaspar Traveled From Spain To Brazil Specifically For The Procedures. Gaspar had lived in Spain for approximately five years and traveled from Madrid to Goiânia in August 2026 to undergo the cosmetic surgery, which her family described as a long-held dream. [UOL]

Gaspar Paid R$118,000 For The Cosmetic Procedures. Her family said she had saved for approximately two years to afford the surgery, paying about 118,000 Brazilian reais for the package of procedures. [G1]

Gaspar Underwent Six Facial Procedures During A Single Operation. The August 11 surgery included a deep facelift, forehead surgery with hairline reduction, chin surgery, upper-eyelid surgery, liposuction and facial fat grafting. [UOL]

The Operation Lasted More Than Eight Hours. Hospital records cited by UOL said surgery began at approximately 8:10 a.m. and ended around 4:20 p.m. The family has described the total period surrounding the operation as lasting as long as ten hours. [UOL]

Questions About The Preoperative Evaluation

Gaspar’s Family Says She Never Had An In-Person Consultation With Martins Before Surgery. Gaspar allegedly communicated with Martins’ team remotely and submitted her medical information and tests while still living in Spain. Her sister said Gaspar did not actually meet Martins in person until the day of the surgery. [G1]

A Scheduled Consultation The Day Before Surgery Was Allegedly Canceled. According to Gaspar’s family, she was supposed to meet Martins on August 10, but his secretary canceled the appointment and told her that the evaluation could instead take place at the surgical center. [UOL]

The Family Says Preoperative Testing Showed Possible Infection-Related Abnormalities. Gaspar underwent testing in Spain before traveling to Brazil, and her relatives say results indicated bacterial or inflammatory abnormalities. They have questioned why surgery proceeded without further investigation of those findings. [G1]

UOL Reported That The Preoperative Tests Showed Antibodies Associated With Two Bacteria. The family’s submission to prosecutors alleged that these findings were known to the medical team before the operation and should have prompted additional investigation. Whether the abnormalities represented an active infection relevant to Gaspar’s death remains part of the dispute surrounding the case. [UOL]

Gaspar Had Also Reported Using Hormones Before Surgery. Her sister said the medical team knew about Gaspar’s hormone use and instructed her to stop the medication approximately one week before the procedure. [G1]

Gaspar’s Deteriorating Condition

Gaspar Was Taken To A Regular Hospital Room Rather Than An Intensive-Care Unit. After the surgery, Gaspar was transferred to a conventional room at Hospital Ankar. Her family says she was not placed in intensive care despite having undergone multiple procedures under general anesthesia during a lengthy operation. [UOL]

Her Family Says Her Tongue Was Severely Swollen After Surgery. Gaspar’s sister Djiane Vieira said Gaspar returned from surgery with such severe swelling that she could not close her mouth. [G1]

Gaspar Reportedly Began Experiencing Serious Breathing Problems. The family’s complaint says that during the evening Gaspar reported difficulty breathing, a feeling that she was drowning and secretions obstructing her airways. [UOL]

The Family Alleges Staff Dismissed Gaspar’s Complaints As Nervousness. According to the family’s submission to prosecutors, nursing personnel characterized some of Gaspar’s complaints as anxiety or fussiness rather than signs requiring immediate escalation. Those claims are allegations from the family and remain under investigation. [UOL]

A Doctor Reportedly Examined Gaspar Around 12:50 A.M. The family’s complaint says the on-duty physician documented anterior neck discomfort and prescribed pain medication and oxygen but did not order imaging or transfer Gaspar to intensive care. [UOL]

The Family’s Desperate Calls For Help

Gaspar’s Sister Sent A Desperate Message Saying Her Sister Was Dying. As Gaspar’s condition worsened, Djiane Vieira sent an audio message to a WhatsApp group involving the medical team pleading for assistance and saying that her sister was dying and nobody was appearing to help. [O POPULAR]

Gaspar Suffered A Cardiorespiratory Arrest During The Early Morning. According to the family’s submission, Gaspar went into cardiac and respiratory arrest at approximately 2:15 a.m. on August 12. [UOL]

Medical Personnel Attempted To Resuscitate Gaspar For Approximately Two Hours. Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, Gaspar was pronounced dead at approximately 4:15 a.m. [UOL]

Questions About The Hospital’s Emergency Resources

Gaspar’s Family Says Hospital Ankar Did Not Have An Intensive-Care Unit. Djiane Vieira alleged that the family had been led to believe intensive-care services were available but discovered during the emergency that the hospital did not have a UTI, the Brazilian equivalent of an ICU. [G1]

The Family Also Alleged That The Hospital Did Not Have An Ambulance Available To Transfer Gaspar. Vieira said the absence of both an ICU and an ambulance capable of moving her sister to a higher-level facility contributed to the family’s concerns about whether the hospital was appropriately equipped for such an extensive operation. [G1]

The Hospital Disputes Allegations That Gaspar Did Not Receive Proper Emergency Care. Hospital Ankar’s attorneys said Gaspar received immediate emergency treatment from medical and nursing personnel and that all necessary measures were taken when her condition deteriorated. [UOL]

Cause Of Death

The Autopsy Identified Serious Cardiovascular And Pulmonary Complications. According to the family’s filing and reporting on the necropsy, findings included acute coronary thrombosis, pulmonary infarctions and hemorrhagic secretions in Gaspar’s airways. [UOL]

Other Reporting Summarized The Cause Of Death As Acute Thrombosis And Pulmonary Infarction. G1 reported that the medical findings cited by Gaspar’s family identified acute thrombosis and pulmonary infarction in connection with her death. [G1]

The Findings Do Not By Themselves Establish Medical Negligence. Whether any decision made before, during or after the surgery caused or contributed to Gaspar’s death is the central issue authorities are being asked to investigate. The family says it wants the evidence independently reviewed rather than assuming wrongdoing without an investigation. [UOL]

Criminal And Medical Investigations

The Goiás Public Prosecutor’s Office Asked Police To Investigate Possible Negligent Homicide. The 2nd Prosecutor’s Office of Goiânia forwarded material to the city’s 1st Regional Police Station and requested that a police inquiry be opened into whether Gaspar’s death could constitute homicídio culposo, the Brazilian offense generally corresponding to negligent homicide. [G1]

The Investigation Request Does Not Mean Martins Or Hospital Staff Have Been Found Criminally Responsible. The prosecutor’s action seeks an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. No finding of criminal guilt has been reported. [G1]

The Goiás Regional Medical Council Said Complaints About Physician Conduct Are Investigated Confidentially. CREMEGO said allegations involving the ethical conduct of doctors that come to the council’s attention are investigated through confidential proceedings. [G1]

The Doctor And Hospital Respond

Martins Said He Would Cooperate Fully With Authorities. The otolaryngologist expressed condolences to Gaspar’s family but said medical-ethics rules prevented him from publicly discussing her clinical information, examinations or treatment. He said he would provide explanations to the appropriate investigative bodies and expressed confidence that the inquiry would demonstrate that the care was proper. [G1]

Martins’ Defense Says He Was Professionally Qualified To Perform The Facial Procedures. His representatives said Martins holds a specialist qualification and argued that facial surgery falls within the competency requirements for Brazilian otolaryngology residency programs. [UOL]

Hospital Ankar Said Gaspar’s Preoperative Evaluations Were Conducted Outside The Hospital. The hospital emphasized that the testing and preoperative assessment occurred before she was admitted to the facility and said its own treatment records are documented and available to investigators. [UOL]

Gaspar’s Family Says It Is Seeking An Investigation Rather Than Presuming Criminal Guilt. Attorney Fábio Ricardo Rodrigues said the family wants authorities to establish what happened through the Police Civil, Public Prosecutor’s Office and, if necessary, the courts. [UOL]