A surgeon accused of manslaughter after a plus-size influencer died following a botched weight loss operation is being investigated by prosecutors in Mexico.

Model Magnolia Morales, 29 – who had more than 50,000 Instagram followers – died on 6th January after months of agony following the gastric sleeve op.

She is said to have suffered a cardiac arrest following up to 30 procedures after the original operation.

Now the Sinaloa State Attorney’s Office is investigating the case after her family accused surgeon Dr Hernan Lizarraga of manslaughter and malpractice.

Magnolia was left fighting for her life after Lizarraga removed part of her stomach to make it smaller in July last year.

Soon after the op, she developed agonising abdominal pain, high blood pressure, and breathing difficulties, say her family.

Lizarraga spent two months operating repeatedly on Magnolia – her family claims – trying to repair a gastric leak, which occurs when the suture lines have not closed properly.

Her condition did not improve and she was transferred to the Culiacan Civil Hospital in Sinaloa State, where doctors gave her a low chance of recovery.

Medics found she had multiple perforations to her digestive system and many lacerated internal organs, reports local media.

Her sister Esmeralda said: “They only gave us a 10 per cent chance that Magnolia would be able to lead a normal life again. And only after many reconstructive operations.”

During the operations, doctors reportedly discovered further damage to Magnolia’s organs.

At one point she was in intensive care for 15 days in a coma and connected to a ventilator.

Her family transferred Magnolia to another centre on 6th December and she died precisely one month later from cardiac arrest.

Esmeralda told local media: “She had good days, bad days and very bad days. She spent 15 days in intensive care, was intubated, connected to a respirator and managed to come out of it.

“She put all her effort, she adhered to the medical indications.

“She came out of a coma, she was able to talk again, to take a few steps and to walk, but her organs inside her were not good.”

Following the death, the head of the State Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COEPRISS), Randy Ross Alvarez, said that they closed an operating room and a maintenance room at the Maria del Mar Hospital Clinic in November 2022 for non-compliance with health regulations.

Magnolia, had said on 16th July, her birthday, on Instagram: “Today I want to thank life for giving me 29 years of friendships, learning, experiences and lots of love. Thank you for teaching me to stop in difficult moments and know how to enjoy, share and take advantage of good moments.”