A 43-year-old Nigerian-British businessman and social media personality, Igho Ubiribo, has died after undergoing a cosmetic penis enlargement procedure while on holiday in Thailand.
Ubiribo, also known as “Tiny”, “Denisi” and “Ego”, reportedly developed serious complications shortly after undergoing the procedure at an unnamed clinic in Bangkok in March. A UK coroner later ruled that he died from a pulmonary embolism linked to the cosmetic treatment.
According to the Daily Mail, Ubiribo was visiting Bangkok with his wife, Danielle Simba Allen, when he decided to undergo the procedure, which involved the injection of about 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine.
After the treatment, Ubiribo and his wife returned to their Marriott hotel and went for a massage. During the massage, he complained of chest pain and reportedly lost consciousness twice.
He was rushed to Sukhumvit Hospital, where he initially remained responsive and communicated with medical staff. His wife informed doctors that he had recently undergone penis filler injections, prompting medical personnel to suspect a pulmonary embolism and plan a CT scan.
However, Ubiribo became unconscious before the scan could be carried out. He was admitted to intensive care, where medical workers reportedly performed CPR for more than 100 minutes in an unsuccessful attempt to revive him. He died in the early hours of March 6.
Postmortem Links Filler to Fatal Complication
An examination conducted in the UK later provided further evidence concerning the cause of death.
Evidence heard at the Inner West London Coroners’ Court showed that cellular material found in Ubiribo’s lungs was consistent with the hyaluronic acid administered during the procedure.
Pathologist John du Parcq told the inquest that the substance recovered from the lungs corresponded with the filler used during the treatment and supported a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
Following the evidence, coroner Jean Harkin ruled that Ubiribo died from a pulmonary embolism resulting from the cosmetic procedure.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood vessel supplying the lungs becomes blocked. It can become life-threatening by disrupting blood flow to the lungs and placing significant strain on the heart.
Medical History Examined
Ubiribo’s previous medical history was also considered during the inquest. His London doctor reportedly told the court that he had previously undergone joint-related surgery and had been described as pre-diabetic and suffering from gout.
However, the doctor indicated that Ubiribo had no other major underlying medical conditions.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are used in some cosmetic procedures as a non-surgical option for increasing penis girth, although such injections can carry risks, including serious complications.
Businessman Known for Luxury Lifestyle
Beyond his business activities, Ubiribo was known for sharing aspects of his luxury lifestyle with his social media followers. He reportedly had about 185,000 Instagram followers and owned properties in the United States and the United Kingdom.
His properties reportedly included a Los Angeles home valued at about $1.1 million and a London apartment worth approximately $600,000.
Ubiribo married fashion designer and socialite Danielle Simba Allen in an elaborate ceremony in Zimbabwe in 2022.
He was later buried in London in a gold coffin reportedly valued at more than $600,000. Afrobeats superstar Davido attended the funeral and reportedly spoke during the ceremony.
Davido, who was said to have been a childhood friend of Ubiribo, reportedly expressed shock over his death and remembered him for his energy and memorable presence.
The case has drawn renewed attention to the potential risks associated with injectable cosmetic procedures, following the coroner’s finding that linked the filler used in Ubiribo’s enlargement procedure to the fatal pulmonary embolism.
