A mother claims liposuction nearly killed her after a botched procedure left her with rotting flesh around her midriff.
Beatrix Searles spent $4,200 (£3,300) on having unwanted fat removed from her abdomen, legs and back last October at a Colombian clinic.
Just days later, the 53-year-old, from Montana, claims the skin around her abdominal wound began rotting and turned black.
Although she was never officially diagnosed, she is thought to have battled the flesh-eating disease necrotising fasciitis.
The truck driver alleges nurses at the clinic, which has not been named, failed to properly dress her wounds, leaving her at risk of infection.
She was then forced to undergo seven surgeries to correct the botched operation, leaving her with a severely-scarred midsection.
Miss Searles, who describes the ordeal as 'torture', wants her surgeon brought to justice, claiming he is 'on the run'.
Beatrix Searles (pictured in hospital) claims liposuction nearly killed her after the botched procedure left her with rotting flesh around her midriff that later turned black
The affected area is pictured with a vacuum known as a VAC. This reduces air pressure around the wound, which speeds up healing. It also lowers swelling and removes bacteria
Seven surgeries later, Miss Searles' severely-scarred abdomen is pictured
Miss Searles, who is mother to a 28-year-old daughter, opted to have liposuction after battling low self esteem.
'I originally wanted the operation as I weighed over 13st (182lbs) and wanted a little confidence boost,' she said.
'I did spend my time researching, and decided I needed liposuction on my leg, stomach and back.
'I chose Colombia because when I researched it was the country that specialised in the surgery I wanted and they did it at reasonable prices.
'I watched the surgery through their various YouTube channels and videos and I thought I knew what I was expecting. '
But Miss Searles soon realised the procedure was nothing like it looked in the videos.
'Whilst I was under, they literally cut the fat off my stomach and stitched me back up,' she said.
Miss Searles (pictured left before the ordeal) opted for liposuction to give herself a 'confidence boost'. Pictured right in hospital, the truck driver claims she has been left in 'constant pain'
'The surgeon originally tried to fix what he'd done by using the skin from my back, and pulling it forward - but it went stiff and sore.'
Miss Searles believes poor hygiene practices at the clinic caused her wound to become infected.
'The nurses providing the aftercare used the same gloves for things like using their phone,' she said.
'I wasn't provided with anything I'd seen on the videos, like plastic wrapping over
