Woman Dies After Injecting Beef Fat into Face

Contamination from self-injections investigated, but determined not to be the cause of death

A Homewood woman died Thursday, several days after she injected heated beef fat into her face, officials said.

Janet Hardt, 63, was found ill Thursday in her south suburban home, said deputy police chief Dale Gustafson. She later died at Advocate South Suburban Hospital.

A Friday autopsy determined that while the self-injections were investigated, they weren't the cause of her death. Hardt died of peritonitis and perforated diverticulitis of the colon, the autopsy revealed.

Hardt injected "melted animal fat" into her body, sources told NBC Chicago, adding that this wasn't the first time she'd injected it into her face.

She previously underwent multiple cosmetic surgeries, sources said.

"The very fact that someone would think that's acceptable astounds me," said Shannon Quante, a registered nurse at CosMedic Clinic.

"Fillers are safe," Quante said, but there's no reason to try self-treatment. Quante said people should never inject anything that is not FDA approved.  

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