Dan Seddon
Brazilian butt lift (BBL) has gone terribly wrong in Florida, leaving one 50-year-old woman unable to walk, talk or eat by herself.
Daidys Pena Garces underwent the procedure - which is intended to 'enhance' the shape and size of buttocks by transferring fat from another area of the body - in May 2023.
She got it done at the A&E Med Spa under the watch of Dr Fermin Morales, who is now being sued by Daidys' husband, Jorge Fernandez.
In the 'Sunshine State', though, there's no legal requirement for doctors to be board-certified plastic surgeons to perform cosmetic surgery. Dr Morales was allegedly certified as a general surgeon, not a plastic surgeon.
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Speaking to 7 News Miami over two years since the medical disaster, the husband-turned-full-time-carer described Daidys as his 'first love'.
A month after the BBL, Daidys was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism, blocking blood flow from her heart into the lungs. Jorge said he was then informed by doctors that his beloved partner wouldn't make it.
However, she managed to pull through. Alive but no longer able to walk, talk or eat by herself, the woman is now fed through a feeding tube.
Jorge's attorney, Lavenia Santos, said: "This pulmonary embolism occurred because of this surgery. Garces would not have undergone the high-risk plastic surgery procedure had she known that the surgeon was not a trained and board-certified plastic surgeon.
"The woman has no idea that she is not being cared for by a board-certified plastic surgeon. That's just wrong. If the public knew that, they would probably not be so willing to go, regardless of price. What happened to her shouldn't happen to anyone."
Back in January, the State Surgeon General recommended that Dr Morales be sanctioned after another patient of his lost their life following a BBL, WSVN reports.
As the couple navigate their difficult journey through life, a GoFundMe page has been created for them to help Daidys carry out day-to-day activities.
The description reads: "Daidys Pena suffers from severe brain injury caused by a massive pulmonary embolism. Daidys had a Brazilian Butt Lift procedure by an unqualified surgeon at A&E Med Spa in May 2023. She had no idea the surgeon was unqualifed. Daidys required emergency medical care and was hospitalised for seven months due to the pulmonary embolism.
"Now Daidys is unable to perform any activites of daily living without assistance. Along with facing an extended recovery process, she is now burdened with growing medical bills and ongoing treatments. Her husband has stepped in as her primary caregiver 24/7.
"The funds raised will go directly towards medical bills, rehabilitation, recovery and her daily needs as a patient with severe disabilities."
$25,000 (£18,500) is the target, while at the time of writing, 11 donations have amounted to $275 (£204).
According to a court filing, A&E Med Spa denied the claims in the suit, and it also told WSVN that Dr Morales no longer works there.
UNILAD has contacted A&E Med Spa for further comment.