Woman Dies Following Botched Silicone Injection

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Apr 3, 2009 8:06 pm US/Eastern

Woman Dies Following Botched Silicone Injection

Family Convinced Cosmetologist Friend Played A Role, But Woman Denies Allegation To CBS 2 HD

Cause Of Death: Silicone Pulmonary Embolism

Reporting Hennessey

NEW YORK (CBS) ―

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A seemingly harmless cosmetic procedure turned deadly for a Bronx

woman. She died one day after receiving silicone injections in her

thighs, allegedly administered by someone without a medical license.

Fiordaliza Pichardo's husband never thought she needed silicone

injections to make her more attractive and would often tell her:

" 'Hey, why you do that? Stop doing that.' She'd tell me, 'Oh let me do this a little bit,' " Fausto told CBS 2 HD.

And the 43-year old tried to keep her injections secret, especially

since they were allegedly being administered by her unlicensed friend,

Elsa Then.

" She trusted this lady so health-wise, no worries, " said Kelvin , the victim's son.

But the worries became real on March 16 when the family says the woman then paid a visit.

" I seen the lady and her preparing. What I saw was the towel, " Kelvin said.

Mother and friend went to the bedroom, where behind closed doors,

another injection, this one to the thigh, took place. But then hours

later something started to happen to Pichardo.

" She told me she got problems with her chest, breathing and then she

told me she wanted to go the hospital, " Fausto said.

Pichardo was rushed to the hospital but died the next morning of what

the medical examiner's officer said was a silicone pulmonary embolism,

caused by so much silicone injected that it was clotting in her lungs.

CBS 2 HD caught up with Elsa Then, who told us she's a cosmetologist

and that she was questioned by police. When asked if she does silicone

injections, she said, " No, never. "

CBS 2 HD: " You're telling me you never injected this woman, in the thighs, in the buttocks? "

Then: " Yes, I never did. "

Then admitted to knowing Pichardo and even visiting her in the

hospital, a place where the family says Then could have told doctors

about the injection, but never did.

" She didn't say anything, at all, " daughter Marines said. " I'm positive. The doctors had no idea. "

The family admits it, too, didn't tell doctors about the silicone injection because they didn't think there was any connection.

Now the connection is all too real -- a silicone injection turning so tragic.

" We're missing one person. Nobody can replace that hole, " Fausto said.

Police said so far no arrests have been made, but they are investigating.