Sydney: The parents of a beautiful 26-year old girl called for more regulation for “vanity” surgery after her death following liposuction.

Lauren James died earlier this week, three days after the surgical procedure which removes unwanted fat. The local coroner is to investigate the death.

Lauren (pictured), was treated at a Caulfield North cosmetic surgery centre, died on Monday after complaining of bleeding and pain over the weekend.

Her family vowed yesterday to join any call for tougher regulation of the vanity surgery industry if the coroner found her death was linked to the liposuction.

A spokesperson for the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr Norm Olbourne, said regulation was needed in vanity surgery.

Ms James had liposuction on both thighs and her buttocks at the Centre of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in Caulfield North on January 19 and was discharged that day.

It is understood she complained of bleeding and saw the centre’s medical director, Dr Mervyn Cass, on Monday morning. She died about 8pm.

Ms James’s death has sparked calls for regulation of the vanity surgery industry.

In Australia, general practitioners can perform cosmetic procedures without surgical qualifications. Although in Lauren’s case the procedure was carried out by a qualified surgeon.

Ms James’s brother said the family was waiting to find out the cause of death.

“If it turns out that it was the surgery that caused Lauren’s death, we would want to prevent it happening to someone else,” Mr James said.

“We would fully endorse an investigation into the dangers and complications that can arise from what is seen as routine cosmetic surgery.”

The national head of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said there were “no standards” in cosmetic surgery.

The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery is trying to introduce new rules to ensure cosmetic surgery is carried out by doctors with post-graduate training, Dr Haikerwal said.