By Francis Chan

Property head honcho Franklin Heng died from punctures to his intestines sustained during liposuction surgery last December.

The 44-year-old's death certificate, obtained by The Sunday Times last Friday, indicated that the cause of death was 'multiple iatrogenic punctures of the intestines due to liposuction'.

Plastic surgeons whom The Sunday Times spoke to said that while it was not unheard of for a doctor to accidentally tear or puncture a patient's intestines during liposuction, such incidents were 'extremely rare'.

Dr Andrew Tay, a consultant plastic surgeon at The Plastic Surgery Practice, said defects in a patient's abdominal wall that made it weaker than normal might increase the risk of such injuries during the procedure.

'But in situations where the abdominal wall is quite normal, I think it would be quite unlikely or even unusual,' added Dr Tay, who has been a fully qualified plastic surgeon for eight years.

Last Dec 30, Mr Heng was taken by ambulance to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) from Reves Clinic, where he was undergoing liposuction.

The chief executive of property management firm YTL Pacific Star was pronounced dead at 6pm that same day, despite attempts by TTSH doctors to resuscitate him.

Close friends of the divorced father of two said that although he was 'fit, trim and in the pink of health', he was concerned about the 'love handles' around his abdominal area.

It was, however, not clear if he had any serious underlying health condition.

The case has since been referred to the coroner, while the Ministry of Health said last month that it has, for now, barred Reves Clinic's doctors from conducting liposuction treatments.

Official records show that the clinic, located at International Building in Orchard Road, is a two-man practice.

Dr Jim Wong, 34, a general practitioner and one of Reves Clinic's partners, is assisting the authorities in their investigation.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.