Man dies having holiday liposuction from 'unlicensed surgeon'
A man has died after reportedly getting plastic surgery from an unlicensed surgery while on holiday.
Manuel Jose Nunez, 28, from New York, died after undergoing a liposuction procedure at Caribbean Plastic Surgery Clinic in the Dominican Republic last week, US television station PIX11 reported.
According to local newspaper El Caribe, the doctor responsible for the procedure was Dr Oscar Polanco, who the publication claims is a gynaecologist and not a plastic surgeon.
Caribbean Plastic Surgery Clinic confirmed the death in a statement to local media.
“He died of respiratory distress,” the statement, which failed to address the claims regarding Dr Polanco, said.
Friend Norka Rodriguez was using FaceTime to speak with another friend inside the recovery area alongside Mr Nunez.
She said nurses had reassured them it was “normal” for patients to appear as if they’re not breathing.
However it was later revealed he had died.
Family and friends are now looking for answers into his death. One friend, Jonathan Bahana described him as “the life of the party pretty much”.
According to PIX11, Dr Polanco was ordered to pay $660,000 in 2015 after two women died during operations. Criminal charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.
He was also reportedly charged in 2016 for manslaughter after a 24-year-old died after liposuction.
Mr Nunez’s family are awaiting the results of his autopsy to decide whether to press charges.
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