Adair Mendes Dutra Junior, 31, complained of complications from a cosmetic ‘fox eye’ procedure and died shortly after he shared photos of his swollen and bruised face
A fashion influencer has died after complaining of an infection he developed from a cosmetic ‘fox eye’ procedure.
Adair Mendes Dutra Junior, known as Junior Dutra on Instagram, “became ill, felt very short of breath, and was taken to the nearest emergency room at a public hospital,” where he died, a close friend told local news. The 31-year-old was in the process of suing his celebrity surgeon Fernando Garbi after alleging a post-procedure wound on his face became infected.
Junior went under the knife back in March and shared images of his swollen face with bruises around his eyes, temple, nose and chin. The ‘fox eye’ procedure involves lifting the corners of the eyes to create an exotic cat-like look.
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It can be done through non-surgical means, including thread lifts and Botox – or for a more permanent result, it can be performed through more invasive procedures like a blepharoplasty or canthoplasty.
On October 3, Junior fell ill, became breathless and died shortly after at a nearby hospital, his close friend Gean Souza told Brazilian magazine Quem.
“We still don’t have the medical records with the cause of death,” he added. “He had been having infectious reactions and feeling discomfort since the procedure. Last Friday, the problem worsened.” Junior was reportedly being looked after by a dermatologist at the time.
According to People, the internet star contacted São Paulo police after the procedure, asking them to investigate Garbi. He also sued the surgeon, alleging medical malpractice, fraud and causing serious bodily injury.
Garbi’s lawyer refuted the claims, saying the doctor had nothing to do with Junior’s death. He also threatened to take legal action against those accusing him of crimes “people eager for brief moments of notoriety”.
The denial, uploaded to Garbi’s Instagram, added: “All legal measures, in the civil and criminal spheres, will be taken against the authors of the insults and slander, so that they respond, to the exact extent of their responsibilities, for the injuries perpetrated against Doctor Fernando.”
The ‘fox eye’ lift, also referred to as a canthoplasty or canthopexy, has gained popularity in recent years, notably through social media posts, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Souza says he wants to see “justice” for his late friend, telling Quem: “He still had many dreams to fulfill, he wanted to be closer to his family, to go abroad.”