An Insta-famous plastic surgeon who promised to make purchasers’ butts “pop” as a substitute allegedly fumbled procedures that led to scarring or infections in California, in accordance with dozens of former sufferers.
Dr. Arian Mowlavi, referred to as Dr. Laguna with greater than 80,000 social media followers, charged hundreds of {dollars} for some surgical procedures, solely to go away sufferers with quite a few issues following the work the physician’s enterprise did on them, in accordance with a number of malpractice lawsuits towards him and lately reported on by the Los Angeles Occasions.
Mowlavi demanded his sufferers get fully bare for an examination and touched their our bodies with out permission, and in some instances had unlicensed technicians carry out among the work, the newspaper reported, citing courtroom docs.
He additionally posted pics and movies of their our bodies on-line with out their consent, the trove of docs declare.
“Dr. Mowlavi is a hazard to the group and his cosmetic surgery sufferers,” Dr. Robert Kachenmeister, a California-based physician who handled a few of Mowlavi’s sufferers post-surgeries, reportedly wrote in a court-submitted courtroom declaration.
Mowlavi would brag about his craft in quite a few movies posted on social media.
In a single clip cited by the LA Occasions, he mentioned “We’re making some stunning butts, so include me” as he confirmed an unconscious affected person face down on the working desk together with her butt out within the open.
“This butt has quantity, pop,” he cheerfully mentioned. “This what we’re speaking about guys.”
He has denied allegations of wrongdoing, arguing in courtroom filings sufferers had been conscious of and assumed the dangers from the surgical procedures in courtroom filings, the LA Occasions reported.
The California Medical Board put ahead a proper accusation towards Mowlavi in 2021 that alleged a number of violations. The next 12 months the board suspended his license for 90 days and slapped him with a 10-year probation, the outlet reported.
He reportedly didn’t fess as much as wrongdoing however accepted the ruling.
One affected person of Mowlavi even died again in 2018 days after present process surgical procedure for liposuction, breast implants and different work, the LA Occasions reported.
Irlanda Swarthout handed out and was rushed to the emergency room 5 hours after the process, in accordance with the state’s medical board.
She had shortness of breath earlier than collapsing at dwelling and dying three days later from inner bleeding that stopped her coronary heart, the board reported.
Her household sued in 2019 after which the medical board lodged an accusation towards him that claimed he allowed surgical technicians to work on the affected person.
The surgeon reached a $1 million settlement together with her household and didn’t contest the board’s accusation, per the LA Occasions.
One other affected person, social media influencer Chalene Johnson, made public claims that detailed her “cosmetic surgery nightmare” with Mowlavi.
Whereas others started reaching out to Johnson about their points with the physician, Mowlavi sued her for defamation, the LA Occasions reported, insisting she obtained correct care.
Greater than 20 sufferers reportedly sued Mowlavi in Dec. 2021 as a result of they mentioned he put photographs of them on-line with out their blessing. One affected person mentioned she was even insulted in the course of the video he posted.
“This lady had no magic, no pop, had a sq. masculine form,” Mowlavi mentioned earlier than exhibiting her post-surgery physique, in accordance with courtroom data reviewed by the LA Occasions.
He has pushed for a keep in many of the lawsuits involving him after he filed for chapter in 2022.
The under-fire physician can also be dealing with a lawsuit from the Orange County District Legal professional’s workplace over alleged illegal and unfair enterprise practices, and an ongoing prison probe.