Woman Posing as a Plastic Surgeon Arrested and Guidance to Ensure Visit to a Qualified Aesthetician

A woman in Miami has been arrested for posing as a plastic surgeon after she delivered a botched nose job. The patient suffered from facial disfigurement and will now need to pay for extensive revision surgery.

Alcalira Jimenez De Rodriguez, 56, was arrested while in the middle of a procedure on another patient, according to reports.

Investigators at the Doral Police Department say they were contacted last month by Vincenzo Zurlo, who had allegedly undergone rhinoplasty surgery with her in February 2020.

He told police that the $2,000 surgery left his face disfigured and that he had only learned after the procedures that Jimenez De Rodriguez was not licensed in the state, according to WTVJ.

So how can clients ensure they arrive to a qualified and licensed aesthetician in the UK?

1. In the UK, you can search for any doctor on the General Medical Council's website. The person performing your surgery must be listed on the specialist register for plastic surgery. If they're not, then that's a massive red flag.

2. What are the arrangements if there is a complication? Do they have facilities to take you back into the operating theatre to correct things even in the middle of the night?

3. Ask how frequently the surgeon performs the procedure you intend to book in for. They should be performing it regularly and have many years of experience.

4. Are they insured? Your surgeon should be covered. Again, if they're not, it's a definite red flag.

5. What hospital will they be operating out of? Is it reputable? Is it Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated?

6. Look at your surgeon's online reviews and be wary of fake ones. RealSelf and Doctify are great places to look, Trustpilot, less so.

7. Do they seem 'nice' and 'normal'? It's worth checking out if they have a social media profile and looking at the type of content they post to get a feel for them.

8. Have they offered you an adequate cooling-off period? Be wary of those pressuring you to book in immediately after a consultation.

9. Check to see if they are a member of associations that have a high level of standards e.g. BAAPS, BAPRAS or ISAPS.

Additional questions to ask your surgeon if travelling abroad for a procedure:

1. Check if the surgeon is properly qualified in the country they are operating in. They should be the equivalent of being board certified (US)/be on the GMC specialist register (UK).

2. What's the procedure if you have a complication when you’re back in the UK? How easy is it in the following days/weeks/month to get things corrected? For example, if it’s a breast augmentation complication, all the NHS will offer is the removal of the implant. You may find revision surgery costs a lot more.

3. In the UK we have Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated clinics. Is the facility where you will be having your operation the equivalent of CQC-certified?