October 10, 1999 --
Police issued a warrant last month for Reinaldo Silvestre, 58, who is believed to have fled the USA to escape charges of aggravated battery and practicing medicine without a license.
Silvestre portrayed himself as a plastic surgeon to prey on that desire, police say. Today, some of his alleged victims will undergo reconstructive surgery in the long process of trying to repair the damage. "The scars are pretty terrible," Miami Beach Police Detective Juan Sanchez says. "It's the closest thing to a horror film that I've ever seen."
Among other things, Silvestre is accused of using a kitchen-type spatula to force female breast implants into a male bodybuilder's chest.
Two others already have been arrested: a girlfriend of Silvestre, who police say assisted in surgery, and an unlicensed anesthetist , who apparently put patients under using an animal anesthetic.
With more than 1 million patients sculpted by board-certified plastic surgeons last year, a 150% increase since 1992, cosmetic surgery is no longer solely for celebrities and the super-rich. California still accounts for the largest slice of the surgical pie, with 13% of procedures, but Florida is closing the gap, with 10%. The numbers are conservative because no one keeps track of the estimated 50,000 additional doctors who are allowed to perform the procedures but are not plastic surgeons.
This information is not to substitute for professional medical advice. You
should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or
disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please
consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have
regarding your condition.
