Thai authorities have opened an investigation into a Bangkok clinic following the death of Nigerian-born British influencer Igho Ubiribo after he underwent a penis enlargement procedure at the facility.
Ubiribo, 43, died on March 6 after receiving a hyaluronic acid filler injection.
A London coroner ruled last month that the injection caused a fatal pulmonary embolism.
Ubiribo, popularly known as “Tiny” and “Ego”, had about 185,000 followers on Instagram, where he frequently shared photos of his luxury lifestyle with his wife.
Thailand’s Department of Health Service Support said the clinic told investigators that Ubiribo had been receiving treatment there since 2024 and had undergone five penile enlargement procedures.
According to the clinic, he received 40 millilitres of filler during his fifth visit on March 5.
The doctor had reportedly advised that the treatment be divided into two sessions, but Ubiribo requested that the entire amount be administered at once.
The clinic said he signed consent forms before each procedure and was given aftercare instructions.
According to the coroner’s report, Ubiribo later developed chest pain while having a massage with his wife.
He was taken to hospital by ambulance after losing consciousness twice.
Medical staff suspected a pulmonary embolism, but he lost consciousness before a CT scan could be carried out.
Doctors attempted to revive him for more than 100 minutes before he was pronounced dead at about 1am.
Thai authorities are now examining whether the clinic was properly licensed and whether it followed the required health and safety procedures.
Health Minister Pattana Promphat said the investigation was aimed at ensuring fairness and reassuring both local and international patients that Thailand’s healthcare facilities provide safe and high-quality treatment.
The case has renewed attention on Thailand’s medical tourism industry, particularly its growing aesthetic treatment sector.
Official figures showed that Thailand had about 7,000 aesthetic clinics as of 2024, including around 2,000 in Bangkok.
The country’s aesthetic medicine market is projected to reach $7.51 billion by 2027.
