Family of Chicago woman who died from plastic surgery complications awarded $66 million in lawsuit

The family of a Chicago woman who died from complications of plastic surgery she received at a West Lawn clinic was awarded $66 million Friday following a lawsuit against the surgeon who performed it.

The jury delivered a $56 million verdict in what is believed to be the highest in Cook County against a plastic surgeon, according to Clifford Law Offices, which represented the family. With post-judgment interest, the total judgment is $66 million.

In November 2019, Idalia Corcoles went to the 63rd Medical and Surgical Center, 3918 W. 63rd St., for a liposuction procedure commonly known as a tummy tuck.

The 39-year-old mother of four suffered internal bleeding after the surgery and died the next day, according to the lawsuit.

Dr. Ayoub Sayeg failed to obtain medical clearance for the surgery and did not perform a complete physical exam prior the operation, the lawsuit states.

He performed the operation improperly, leading to a perforation of Corcoles’ abdominal wall and a laceration to her spleen, according to the lawsuit. Sayeg also testified that he never checked on Corcoles after the surgery.

Corcoles’ husband, Alejandro Cervantes, filed the wrongful death lawsuit in 2021.

“The negligence of this medical practitioner is so egregious that the jury knew they had to do the right thing for this innocent family,” Bradley Cosgrove, a lawyer representing Cervantes, said in a statement.

“The jury obviously is sending a clear message that Dr. Sayeg is not a professional and there is serious consideration if he should even be holding a medical license,” Cosgrove continued. “He and his entire medical staff ignored obvious signs that this mom was dying, and yet he and the entire team did nothing to save her.”

A law firm listed as the attorney for Sayeg and clinic didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.