Tag: Cosmetic Procedures

Recently in South Florida there has been a tragedy. Hoping to improve the appearance of her buttocks Lidvian Zelaya, a 35 year old woman from Miami, went to Strax Rejuvenation and Aesthetics Institute for liposuction and fat transfer to the buttocks. She chose the center based upon price, she thought she was getting a bargain. She ended up paying the ultimate price. On December 27^th, 2010 Mrs. Zelaya suffered complications during surgery and was transferred to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. She went to a large center where lots of procedures are done everyday. Her surgeon was board certified in plastic surgery. One would think she had made good choices. Had she done a little homework she might be with us today. She was quoted a price of $4500 for liposuction and fat transfer. While this is a very good price, one has to be suspicious of pricing that is WAY less than other qualified surgeons are charging. And then there is the surgeon. Strax did not release the name of the surgeon, though the lawyer for Mrs. Zalaya’s husband claims the surgeon was Dr. Roger L. Gordon. While he is, in fact, board certified, a quick perusal of the Florida Board of Medicine might have changed her mind about her choices. Dr. Gordon has multiple complaints and disciplinary charges filed against him. Looking at county records there have also been legal actions involving Dr. Gordon. A little homework may have helped avert this terrible tragedy. If you are considering have a procedure soon, take time and investigate your options well. Search the American Board of Plastic Surgery website to confirm the doctor is properly certified. Check the state board of medicine website to see if his/her license is clear and if there are any disciplinary actions on record. You can also look up the doctor in your county records website to see if the doctor has been named in legal actions in the past. A little diligence may go a long way in keeping you safe!