![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Jennifer-Arias.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA 29-year-old mother from New York traveled to South Florida for cosmetic surgery but never returned home.<\/p>\n
Now, her family is speaking publicly for the first time about the loss of Jennifer Arias, saying they are still searching for answers and hoping changes can be made to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was beautiful, perfect,\u201d said Jennifer’s sister, Erika Arias. \u201cBeautiful figure. I just don’t understand what was in her mind to want to change it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family is still coming to terms with the loss of the beloved daughter, sister, and mother.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tFamily courtesyFamily courtesy<\/p>\n
THE DAY OF THE SURGERY<\/p>\n
Jennifer traveled from New York to Miami for liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift, or BBL, at New Life Plastic Surgery on August 13.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike she literally landed in Miami on the 12th, and they brought her into surgery the next following day, early morning,\u201d Erika said.<\/p>\n
Jennifer’s mother, Monica Arias, said she argued with her daughter about undergoing cosmetic surgery.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told her, don’t do it, don’t do it,\u201d Monica recalled.<\/p>\n
She said she was worried something could go wrong and that Jennifer’s 7-year-old daughter, Jenella, could be left without her mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf something happens to you, what will happen to your daughter?\u201d Monica said she asked her.<\/p>\n
Her sister, Erika, showed NBC6 Investigates the instructions Jennifer received before surgery, as well as a text message Jennifer sent her at 4:18 a.m. on the day of the procedure, which said she was heading into surgery.<\/p>\n
Hours later, Erika said she received a troubling phone call.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was basically told that she isn’t doing well … she’s having trouble breathing,\u201d Erika Arias said.<\/p>\n
Jennifer’s father, Wilson Arias, said the family immediately headed to the airport after learning something had gone wrong.<\/p>\n
‘THEY COULDN\u2019T SAVE HER’<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Jennifer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Arias-parents.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tNBC6NBC6<\/p>\n
Jennifer Arias\u2019 parents, Wilson and Monica, holding a photo of their daughter and granddaughter, Jenella.<\/p>\n
According to the family, while they were trying to get to Miami, Erika received a call from Julio \u201cJ.C.\u201d Clavijo Alvarez, the doctor she says was scheduled to perform her sister’s surgery.<\/p>\n
Dr. Alvarez is a Miami plastic surgeon who promotes his work on social media and is listed on New Life Plastic Surgery’s website.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll what I’ve heard from him was just like, \u2018We did everything that we could,\u2019 and then, \u2018I’m sorry,\u2019\u201d Erika said.<\/p>\n
The family said Jennifer was transported to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. By the time they arrived in Miami, they say she had died.<\/p>\n
\u201cA doctor told us to sit down,\u201d Jennifer\u2019s father said. \u201cAnd said that she was still alive when she got there to the hospital, but that unfortunately, they couldn’t save her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn’t believe it. That’s my sister. That’s my best friend,\u201d Erika added.<\/p>\n
According to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office, Jennifer died from bilateral pulmonary fat emboli, or fat embolisms in both lungs, resulting from her surgeries. Her death was classified as an accident.<\/p>\n
Her mother said one of their final conversations now weighs heavily on her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told her, \u2018Do whatever you want, but don’t come crying to me afterward if something happens to you.\u2019 But I never thought she would come back like this,\u201d Monica said.<\/p>\n
SIX PATIENTS\u2019 DEATHS<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/New-Life-patients.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tNBC6NBC6<\/p>\n
NBC6 Investigates reviewed civil lawsuits, state and county records and found Jennifer Arias is at least the sixth patient to die following surgery at New Life Plastic Surgery since 2018.<\/p>\n
Some of those deaths occurred only months apart.<\/a><\/p>\n In court filings related to two previous patient deaths, New Life has denied responsibility, arguing in part that the physicians involved were independent contractors rather than employees of the clinic.<\/p>\n In 2022, our sister station,\u00a0Telemundo 51, spoke with the family of Naimy Sucetz<\/a>, a 41-year-old woman who died after undergoing liposuction and a tummy tuck at New Life Plastic Surgery.<\/p>\n According to the medical examiner, Sucetz died from a blood clot in her lungs. Her surgeon was also Julio Clavijo-Alvarez.<\/p>\n
![\"Jennifer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Arias-daughter.jpg\")
<\/p>\n