Plastic surgeon under investigation after girlfriend's 14-year-old daughter dies following breast surgery and butt lift
A plastic surgeon is under investigation for malpractice and has had his license suspended after his girlfriend's 14-year-old daughter died following a breast augmentation and butt lift he reportedly performed.
A 45-year-old plastic surgeon, only identified as Víctor “N,” is accused of being responsible for the death of Paloma Nicole Arellano Escobedo, who died a week after having the plastic surgeries.
Prior to her death, the girl's dad, Carlos Arellano, shared with outlets that his wife told him that their daughter was on a trip "in the mountains" and then told him she was hospitalized, per local outlets El Siglo de Durango and Canal 12 Dgo.
When she passed away, he was told that Paloma had died due to COVID-19, before eventually learning that she had undergone plastic surgery.
“At the funeral, some relatives told me her breasts were larger than what she had before, and when I mentioned it to her mother, she told me it wasn’t true, that she didn’t know anything,” Carlos said in a statement given to the prosecutors, according to AZ Central.
"That night, I asked her mother to leave the room so I could talk to the girl, to say my goodbyes. For some reason, she didn't want to. I managed to convince her and her entire family to leave, and they did. My sister, my sister-in-law, my mother, and I stayed inside. They examined my daughter, and sure enough, she had breast implants. We have photographs of the implants and the scars. We immediately requested an autopsy,” he added.
Reports indicated that Paloma suffered a cardiac arrest, which caused swelling in the upper part of her brain. She was placed in an induced coma and intubated before her death.
He accused his ex-wife and her boyfriend as directly responsible for his daughter’s death.
“We are investigating a probable lack of care on the part of the mother for placing a minor who was under her care and custody in risky situations,” said Yadira de la Garza Fragoso, Durango Attorney General, according to AZ Central.
Other charges against the boyfriend might be identified after the final autopsy, which could take 10 days or more, the prosecutor said.
“There could be a crime of negligent homicide, and probably medical-professional liability,” the attorney general said.
Carlos launched a campaign on Instagram seeking justice for his daughter's death. They are set to hold a peaceful march on Saturday, Sept. 27.
"We cannot continue to normalize the sexualization of girls or allow the ambition of some adults to put their lives at risk. We demand justice and that this crime does not go unpunished,” a supporter posted on Instagram. “Girls deserve to grow up free, safe, and respected.”