John Jefferson
Left: Cristian Adrian Perez Latorre (Los Angeles District Attorney. Right: speaking in a social media video (Cristian Perez Latorre Instagram).
A 53-year-old man who identifies himself online as a “board certified” plastic surgeon from Argentina now faces a criminal case in Los Angeles, California, as authorities allege he performed a cosmetic procedure without a license more than three years ago, leading to infections and a woman’s “serious injury.”
Cristian Adrian Perez Latorre, whose posts show him talking about the difference between Botox and hyaluronic acid and feature an appearance on a show where he speaks on the cosmetic surgery-related death of actress Silvina Luna, faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious injury, and multiple counts of practicing medicine without certification, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Friday.
The charges go back to July and August of 2021, when Latorre is accused of performing a surgery — without a license — on a woman, treating her for infections, and then subsequently trying to fix other unspecified complications from the foregoing, resulting in “great bodily injury.”
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“On July 13, 2021, Latorre allegedly performed an unlicensed cosmetic surgery on a woman. On July 23, 2021, Latorre medically treated the victim for infections that resulted from the surgery,” prosecutors summarized the alleged timeline. “On August 13, 2021, Latorre again treated the victim for further complications related to the surgery.”
Prosecutors did not get into specifics about what kind of surgery this was, but DA George Gascón said the surgery did not just put a woman at risk.
“When an individual masquerades as a doctor and performs medical procedures without a license, it not only endangers lives but also erodes the essential trust between patients and legitimate healthcare providers,” the DA said. “This act of deception threatens the integrity of our healthcare system and the confidence that the community has in those dedicated to their well-being. We are committed to seeking justice for the victim, holding Mr. Latorre accountable and restoring the trust that has been so grievously violated.”
Latorre was arrested Thursday and faces up to 10 years behind bars if convicted as things currently stand, but investigators are asking anyone who “may have additional information” about the suspect to call 213-257-3010, seemingly to encourage others to come forward with claims of illicit cosmetic procedures gone awry.
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It’s unclear if Latorre has a defense attorney at this time.
Complications from unlicensed cosmetic surgeries can and have had deadly consequences, as the California prosecutions of a mother and daughter for a woman’s illegal butt lift procedure death demonstrated several months ago.
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