A 35‑year‑old Canadian woman and mother of four has tragically died just hours after undergoing cosmetic surgery in Turkey, authorities confirmed in an investigation that has drawn international attention.
Jessika Chagnon Gailloux, a resident of Quebec, traveled to Antalya — a popular destination for medical tourism — on March 2 with a friend to undergo a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and breast lift procedure at a private clinic in the city. According to friends and family, the surgeries initially appeared to be successful.
However, roughly 12 hours after the procedures, Gailloux suffered a sudden cardiorespiratory arrest while in her hospital room. Medical teams reportedly attempted resuscitation efforts, but she was pronounced dead later that same day.
Local authorities in Antalya have launched a police investigation, treating the circumstances of her death as a matter requiring scrutiny.
Prosecutors are reportedly involved, and the woman’s body was transferred to the Antalya Forensic Medicine Institution for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Police statements released as part of the inquiry indicate that investigators are reviewing Gailloux’s medical condition prior to the operation as well as her activities in the days leading up to the surgery.
Authorities are also exploring whether she may have consumed substances that could have impacted her health during or after the procedures.
A friend who accompanied Gailloux said the pair had used recreational drugs a few days before traveling to Turkey, a factor investigators are reportedly considering in their review.
Friends and loved ones have expressed profound grief over Gailloux’s sudden passing.
A GoFundMe page set up on behalf of her family describes her as an “incredible woman and a deeply loving mother,” noting that her death has left her four children with an “unimaginable” loss.
Her mother also took to social media to mourn her daughter, describing the pain of the loss and the profound void it has created in their family.
Turkey has become a well‑known destination for cosmetic and elective surgical procedures due to comparatively lower costs and a thriving medical tourism industry.
However, experts warn that patients who travel abroad for surgery can face heightened risks if clinics are not held to the same regulatory standards or if follow‑up care is challenging to secure.
While the full findings of the autopsy and official inquiry into Gailloux’s death have yet to be released, authorities are expected to share more details as the investigation progresses.