With the growing popularity of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures like Botox and dermal fillers, many individuals with no medical training have been trying to cash in on the trend. It’s common for them to claim that their services are just as good as those offered by a board-certified plastic surgeon, and they’ll charge just a fraction of the normal price. You may save a few dollars in the short term, but it’s possible that you will be paying much more in the future. 

Reuters reports that Nohemi Gonzalez of Hidalgo County, Texas, was recently arrested for posing as a plastic surgeon and injecting victims with silicone and claiming that it was Botox. One woman who received the injections almost lost one of her legs due to infections. Local authorities are also investigating the death of another former client to see if it was related to the silicone injections. 

Gonzalez allegedly gave injections out of her house and traveled to spas on the Texas-Mexico border advertising her services. She claimed that her injections could smooth out wrinkles and add volume to the lips, legs and buttocks. 

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino told the Associated Press that many of Gonzalez’s patients were in the United States illegally and may have been afraid to report her. 

“This woman has done a lot of damage,” Trevino told the source. 

He also noted that there may be four or five others engaging in the same activity. 

When you seek treatment from a plastic surgeon, you are not only paying for their services, but also for their skill and expertise, the use of a sterile facility and the skill and knowledge of everyone on the surgeon’s staff. 

You really can’t put a price on your health and safety. If you’re looking for a skilled Miami plastic surgeon, contact the office of Dr. Christopher Craft today.