Rachel Tussey, a 47-year-old mother of three from Ohio, died on March 5, 2026, after undergoing a cosmetic abdominoplasty procedure, commonly known as a tummy tuck, at a Cincinnati-area outpatient surgery facility on February 25, 2026. Tussey, who had garnered a significant following on TikTok under the handle @midlifeunmuted, had openly shared her journey leading up to the "mommy makeover" surgery with her more than 27,000 followers.
"Somebody dropped the ball and killed my wife." — Jeremy Tussey, Husband
Tussey used her platform to document the days preceding her surgery, aiming to assist other women contemplating similar cosmetic procedures. In her videos, she described herself as "over 40 & fabulous" and expressed a mix of enthusiasm and faith regarding the upcoming operation. Distractify reported that Tussey shared updates with her followers leading up to the February 25, 2026, procedure. In one of her final videos posted before entering surgery, Tussey conveyed her positive outlook, stating, "Please pray. I know it’s gonna be great. I’ve waited a really long time for this." She added, "I’m in good hands. I know God’s got my back. Let’s do this." Moments before the scheduled surgery, she posted another video, noting, "My husband is here. I’ve got a great support team. I’m really looking forward to this next chapter."
The procedure, an abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery designed to remove excess abdominal skin and tighten underlying muscles. According to her husband, Jeremy Tussey, the surgery initially appeared successful. He recounted that the doctor informed him the procedure "went great" after its completion. However, Jeremy received a call around 5:45 p.m. asking him to return to his wife’s recovery room.
The family alleges that Rachel became unresponsive after staff administered pain medication following the abdominoplasty. Fox19 reported that Jeremy stated nurses informed him the pain medication given to Rachel was ".5 Dilaudid and 150 fentanyl." Jeremy described the escalating concern, recalling, "I got down in her ear a couple times and yelled Rachel, no answer." He further stated that a nurse then began CPR, noting, "She put the bag on her, pumped it once or twice. The bag wasn’t sealed around her face. Then she walked around and grabbed some Narcan."
Jeremy Tussey alleges that the staff at the Plastic Surgery Group, identified by the family as Tork Plastic Surgery, waited approximately 15 minutes before contacting emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Rachel was subsequently transported by ambulance to TriHealth Bethesda North Hospital. Upon arrival, doctors placed her on life support. "She was without oxygen for over six minutes," Jeremy said. He was informed the following night that his wife was brain dead. Despite the efforts, including CPR and emergency drug administration, Tussey suffered a critical loss of oxygen, leading to irreversible brain damage. She was taken off life support on March 5, 2026.
Rachel Tussey is survived by her husband, Jeremy, and their three children, Tristan, Alec, and Livi. In a video posted to his wife’s TikTok account on March 3, Jeremy Tussey openly expressed his assessment of the events surrounding his wife's death. "To me, it looks like incompetence. Somebody dropped the ball here," he stated. He further asserted, "Somebody dropped the ball and killed my wife."
The practice identified by the family, Tork Plastic Surgery, has an office on Montgomery Road near the Bethesda North campus, according to its website. FOX19 reported that it reached out to Rachel’s doctor regarding these allegations via email, sent a follow-up, and called the office. The surgeon involved has not publicly responded to media inquiries concerning the allegations surrounding the procedure, as indicated by various media reports. The incident has drawn attention to patient safety protocols in outpatient surgical settings, particularly concerning post-operative care and emergency response.
