Plastic surgery
Thailand is a popular destination for Brits looking for discounted cosmetic surgery procedures Reuters

A British woman has died while have cosmetic surgery in a clinic in Bangkok.

The 24-year-old patient, whose name has been withheld, was being operated on by Dr Sompob Sansiri, who was not certified for cosmetic surgery, Thai authorities have said.

Public Health ministry executive Boonruang Triruangworawat said on Friday the young Brit stopped breathing after receiving an anaesthetic during the operation on Thursday.

"There was an attempt to resuscitate her but ultimately she did not survive," he said. "We are looking into why it happened."

It is understood she had undergone cosmetic surgery at the same clinic earlier this month but was unsatisfied with the result, and was having a corrective operation when she died.

Sompob has been arrested on charges of causing death by reckless endangerment, Associated Press reports. It is likely the doctor will face additional charges relating to illegal medical surgery from the Health Service Support Department.

Boonruang said the clinic will be shut for 60 days while authorities investigate the fatality.

Thailand is known for offering affordable cosmetic procedures and thousands of Europeans venture to the country to undergo surgery each year, but there have been several deaths as a result of botched surgeries.