The tragic story of businesswoman Lucy Wambui Ng'ang'a, who passed away on October 26 due to complications from a body enhancement procedure, has sparked concerns about cosmetic surgeries in Kenya.
Lucy's surgery was done at Body By Design, registered under Omnicare Medical, where several Kenyan celebrities, including Risper Faith, have had their procedures done.
Speaking to Nation Lifestyle during the launch of her spa business dubbed Luxo, Risper said, "All I can say is rest in peace and my condolences to her family."
For Risper, an influencer, body enhancement has been part of her journey, which she shares with her social media followers.
"I keep fixing my body parts. I have the money to do that. It is not about insecurity; I have just chosen to make adjustments. I have even added veneers to improve my smile. [Veneers are thin, tooth-coloured shells attached to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance]," Risper said.
"It costs over Sh30,000 per tooth. I also did a hair transplant, which was painless, and I have had fat transferred from my stomach to my hips [liposculpting]. It is about looking at the part. I cannot walk around with yellow teeth; you have to look like money," she explained.
Asked why body enhancement procedures, such as a breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction, are significant for celebrities, Risper said:
"When you are in the public eye, you need to stand out. People want to work with individuals who enhance their looks. This is a brand. To attract endorsements [companies that work with influencers], you need perfect hair, a striking smile, and a fit physique. It is not for the fans but for the brands we target. No influencer with a big tummy has made it."
While Risper believes body enhancements can make companies choose one influencer over another, she emphasises that it is a personal choice.
However, she says, being an influencer for cosmetic surgery facilities does not necessarily mean encouraging Kenyans to do the procedures.
"By promoting these body enhancement facilities, I am not influencing anyone to do surgeries, but if you feel something is not right [with your body] and you can afford it, do your research and make an informed decision. It is always a personal choice," she says.
With the tragic death of businesswoman Lucy, is Risper wary of future procedures?
"I will support local professionals if they are truly skilled. And while I plan to do breast surgery, it will be after I have another child," she says.
Murugi Munyi, who also did her surgery and weight loss injections, said she had worked with Body By Design for over four years.
She clarified that, though affiliated with the facility for her own cosmetic treatments, she is neither a medical professional nor an employee there.
"I have decided to come and give my view on what's going on. I have been affiliated with Body By Design since I did my liposuction there two years ago, in 2022. At the time, I was not working with or affiliated with them. I posted and said this is where I am doing my lipo. I paid full price for my lipo, but since then, I have done some work with them; mostly recently, I have been getting my semaglutide weight loss injections [Ozempic] from them. I have worked with them for a long time," she said on her social media pages.
Makeup artiste Lucy Wambui, popularly known as Phoina Tosha, is also said to have spent over Sh500,000 for a liposuction procedure at the same facility in November 2023. Nation Lifestyle contacted Phoina for a comment, but her manager said she was not ready for an interview.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has temporarily closed the facility following the death of Lucy and is doing a crackdown on all spas. The mother of four passed away four days post-surgery.
In a TV interview, Lucy’s husband, Francis Ng'ang'a, said the procedure where fat is removed from the abdominal area and distributed to the butt left her with perforated intestines, causing leakage of stool.
He recounted the difficulties she faced post-surgery, including symptoms that Body by Design clinic staff dismissed as part of her recovery.
