Cosmetic Surgery Chains Face Mounting Malpractice Claims Over Post-Op Care

Lisa Farris worried that a nasty infection from recent liposuction and a tummy tuck was rapidly getting worse. So she phoned the cosmetic surgery center to ask if she should head to the emergency room, she alleges in a lawsuit.

The nurse who took the call at the Sono Bello center in Addison, Texas, told her she “absolutely should not” go to the ER – even though Farris “had a large gush of foul fluid” leaking from the incision, according to records in the malpractice case she filed against the cosmetic surgery chain in 2024.

The nurse told Farris she “only needed to reinforce her dressing to collect the fluid drainage and give it time,” filings in the lawsuit alleged.

“Thankfully, Ms. Farris did go to the ER where she was diagnosed with sepsis from her surgery complications,” a medical expert for her legal team wrote in a court filing. Left untreated, sepsis can lead to death.

Sono Bello officials declined to discuss malpractice cases filed against the company,citing patient privacy laws. But in court filings, the company has disputed Farris’ claims. The case is set for trial early next year.

The Farris lawsuit is one of dozens of medical malpractice cases filed over the past three years that accuse cosmetic surgery chains of failing to provide adequate care for patients in the days and weeks after thier procedures – in manny cases by allegedly neglecting to promptly treat painful infections and other serious complications – including for four patients who died, a KFF Health news examination found.

In some cases, patients who traveled hundreds of miles or more for seemingly routine surgeries allegedly suffered painful complications while recuperating in hotel rooms or unlicensed “recovery homes,” which they said lacked adequate medical staff and supervision, according to court filings.

While complications, such as infections, can occur after any surgical procedure, problems related to postoperative care are blamed for contributing to injuries in over two-thirds of the cosmetic surgery cases KFF Health news reviewed.

The surgery companies involved – some, like Sono Bello, financed by private equity investors – offer elective procedures such as liposuction and “Mommy makeovers” to patients who pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket or on credit.Ads promise life-changing body reshaping techniques with minimal risk and fast recovery times.

A Mother’s Cosmetic Surgery Turns deadly: Family Sues Virginia Clinic

“It was horrifying,” Gavin Easley told KFF Health news in an interview. “My mother was the definition of kind, caring, and unconditionally loving. She was the most unbelievable woman I’ve ever known,” said Easley, 29, who runs an organic farm in Arkansas with his wife.

His mother, Susan Easley, died in 2024 after undergoing liposuction and a fat transfer at a clinic in Virginia. Now, her family is seeking answers and accountability, filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the clinic and its surgeon.

The suit alleges that surgeon Dare Ajibade gave Easley an excessive amount of the anesthetic lidocaine during the 6-hour procedure and failed to recognize persistent vomiting afterward as a sign of toxicity. She called the clinic to report her condition, but her concerns were dismissed, the suit alleges.

“When she called to report complications, they didn’t take it seriously,” said virginia attorney Peter Anderson, who filed the suit. He said Easley presented “clear signs and symptoms” of problems.

(Gavin Easley) “She was the most incredible woman I’ve ever known,” Gavin Easley says of his mother, Susan, shown here with Gavin in the Dominican Republic in August 2023. Susan Easley died in 2024 after liposuction and a fat transfer at a clinic in virginia.

## A Surge in Malpractice Suits Alarms Patients of Fast-Growing Cosmetic surgery Chains

AirSculpt is a brand of Elite Body Sculpture, a Miami Beach-based chain founded by cosmetic surgeon Aaron Rollins. The company, which is financed by private equity investors, has about 30 branches across the country. Neither the company nor Rollins responded to repeated requests for comment on patient lawsuits. In court filings, the company has denied the allegations.

Ajibade has as relocated to Texas, where he works for Sono Bello in San Antonio, according to the company. Neither the surgeon nor the Virginia surgery office, which is also a defendant in the case, returned calls for comment.The defendants have yet to file an answer in court.

A Booming Business

Sono Bello,a national chain of cosmetic surgery centers,is facing increasing scrutiny following reports of patient complications and allegations that medical staff sometiems assessed surgical wounds through photos rather than in-person examinations.

Court records reveal at least five patients who underwent procedures at Sono Bello centers in 2024 filed lawsuits alleging complications were dismissed after staff, including surgeons, reviewed images of their injuries. These cases are currently pending.

Patrick Schaner,a medical director at Sono Bello,defended the practice of requesting patient photos,stating they are “not the sole means of triage” for injuries or complications. However, lawsuits paint a concerning picture.

One case involves Joshua Kiernan, who underwent liposuction in Columbia, South Carolina, in May 2024.after a fall caused drainage around his incision, Kiernan returned to the office complaining of redness and pain. according to his suit, the surgeon, Stancie Rhodes, opted to view a photo of the wound taken by office staff rather than examining Kiernan directly. The surgeon reportedly determined the photo “looked fine” and advised Kiernan to take Tylenol and follow up in a week.

Two days before his scheduled follow-up, kiernan required emergency hospitalization for an abdominal hematoma and infection, ultimately undergoing six surgeries and incurring over $325,000 in medical bills. Sono Bello has denied the allegations in court filings.

The cases raise questions about the quality of post-operative care at chain cosmetic surgery centers. Plastic surgeon Mark Domanski, based in Virginia, believes these clinics often prioritize marketing over patient care, emphasizing that “surgical care does not end at the last stitch” and requires attentive follow-up with the performing surgeon.

Risky Recovery: Patients Face Danger in Unregulated post-Surgery Homes

South Florida has become a hub for cosmetic surgery, but a growing number of patients are facing serious complications – and even death – in the recovery homes and hotels where they go to heal. Court filings reveal a pattern of deaths and untreated complications linked to these largely unregulated facilities.

For over a decade, officials have struggled to control the proliferation of unlicensed recovery centers, frequently enough marketed with promises of “luxury” and convenience. One recent case involved Ahmonique Miller, who died in March 2025 in a Miami recovery house after undergoing cosmetic surgery. Miami police investigated her death.

A bill has recently been filed by a local lawmaker to attempt to rein in these facilities and increase oversight.

Dr. George Hollenbeck warns patients to thoroughly investigate the “level of care” available before choosing a recovery location. He emphasizes that attractive advertising and convenient locations do not equate to clinical qualification for providing proper recovery care.

‘Angry and Betrayed’: Patients Sue Med Spas Over Complications,Alleging Negligence

A growing number of lawsuits allege that patients are being harmed by medical spas and surgery centers that prioritize profits over patient safety.These facilities, frequently enough backed by private equity firms, are facing accusations of negligence, improper staffing, and a lack of adequate medical oversight, leading to severe complications and, in certain specific cases, death.

One such case involves Maria Garcia, who died in June after undergoing a liposuction procedure at a Sono Bello facility in Texas. A lawsuit filed by Garcia’s estate claims that Dr. Samuel Raddatz, the surgeon who performed the procedure, and Sono bello failed to provide adequate care, resulting in Garcia developing a pulmonary embolism and requiring a wheelchair due to Garcia’s “severely weakened condition,” according to the suit.

Filed on behalf of Garcia’s estate, the suit names Raddatz and Sono Bello as defendants. An emergency room physician hired as an expert in the case opined that had Garcia gone to the emergency room on June 4, “she would have received care which would have avoided her death,” court records state.Sono Bello had no comment and has yet to file an answer in court.

Established plastic surgeons say they are often called upon to treat patients who arrive in the emergency room with complications because surgeons working for the chains may lack local hospital privileges or are otherwise not available for consultations.

“There is not one colleague of mine who has not dealt with the complications of these types of facilities or med spas on more than one occasion,” said Charles Pierce, president-elect of the New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons.

!The Texas Medical Board meets in October 2024 to mete out disciplinary penalties against doctors. (KFF Health News screenshot)

‘Angry and Betrayed’

Cosmetic Surgeon disciplined after Patients Experience Complications

A Texas cosmetic surgeon, Rambod Charepoo, faced disciplinary action from the state medical board following complications experienced by multiple patients at his Mia Aesthetics surgery center in Austin.The board’s investigation revealed lapses in patient care and adherence to safety standards.

One particularly concerning case involved a patient who experienced notable hypotension and hemorrhagic shock after a procedure.Charepoo allowed this patient to be discharged in a private vehicle to seek emergency care, a decision the medical board deemed put the patient “at risk.”

in October 2024, the Texas medical board determined that Charepoo failed to meet the standard of care for five out of six patients reviewed. As a result, the board mandated that he undergo proctored surgeries – requiring a supervising surgeon to oversee 20 of his operations each quarter for two years. He was also ordered to complete continuing medical education, pass a competency exam, and pay a $4,000 fine.

Published: 2025/12/23 15:02:20