A woman identified as Stefani Viana Barbosa was preventively arrested this Wednesday (28), in the Paraíso neighborhood, in Santana. According to the Civil Police, she is being investigated for carrying out plastic surgery and invasive aesthetic procedures without having training in the health sector or professional registration with a professional council.
According to investigations, the clinic operated in the same property where the suspect lived. The establishment did not have an operating permit from the city hall or a license from the Health Surveillance.
In one of the cases investigated, a patient was charged more than R$14,000 for an aesthetic procedure that resulted in permanent facial deformity.
"My face swelled a lot. I looked like Fofão, completely swollen. I even said goodbye to myself, because I thought I was going to die. I took the strongest medications in the hospital and it didn't get better", recalled the public servant, Elisângela Matos.
According to the Civil Police, the irregular practice had been occurring for years. The person being investigated responds to at least five police inquiries, and the most recent one led to the request for preventive detention.
Among the crimes investigated are attempted murder, serious bodily injury with permanent deformity, illegal practice of medicine and embezzlement.
The police also reported that Stefani has a final sentence of 5 years, 7 months and 2 days in semi-open prison for similar crimes.
According to delegate Anderson Ramos, responsible for the investigations, there are several cases related to the suspicion and police work will continue to identify possible new victims.
"We began to investigate her criminal record and found that she had already responded to three inquiries related to these aesthetic issues. We found that this was not an isolated case. [...] We found that one of the victims suffered a very serious bodily injury, which caused permanent damage," said the delegate.
The investigations also showed that the establishment was authorized only for aesthetic beautification activities, without permission to carry out surgical procedures.
g1 sought Stefani's defense, but until the last update of this article there was no response.
While executing the search warrant, police discovered unsanitary conditions at the clinic. Cockroaches were found in service areas and medicines stored alongside products used to control insects.
Surgical instruments, botulinum toxin, weight-loss pens not registered with Anvisa, hormones, insulin, somatropin (GH), aesthetic filler products and other controlled-use medications were also seized.
"Today will be dedicated to accounting for the seized materials, as various equipment and anabolic steroids were found that require a medical prescription. As she was not a doctor, she could not have been in possession of this material. Many medications will still be accounted for. [...] This material was stored inside her room, without any suitable structure for this type of storage", explained the delegate.
According to the investigation, the suspect used social media to publicize the clinic and attract customers. The publications presented the space as a reference in aesthetic procedures and promised satisfactory results.
In the case that led to the preventive arrest, a patient was charged more than R$14,000 for fat grafting procedures and the application of support threads. According to the Civil Police, she developed a serious bacterial infection, with inflammation, abscesses and permanent facial deformity.
The victim, who is a public servant, said that she had already carried out procedures at the location before the Covid-19 pandemic. Years later, she decided to return to the clinic after seeing the results obtained by other clients and because she had a trip planned.
According to the report, the person under investigation charged R$200 for the consultation and evaluation. The patient stated that she was looking for a procedure to arch her eyelids, but was suggested to undergo other aesthetic procedures.
Shortly after the procedures, the patient presented strong reactions and needed urgent medical care.
The victim also reported that he received instructions from the fake doctor to use medication and undergo tests in an attempt to control the infection, but his health condition continued to worsen.
Elisângela had to be admitted to hospitals in Macapá and Belém. In total, she remained hospitalized for 28 days. In some periods, he was only able to eat soft foods and, according to the report, he still uses anti-inflammatory medications as a result of the complications.
"My face didn't have any scars. Today, it is deformed. I don't recognize myself anymore, because I blame myself a lot for going there and having this procedure done. I have a lot of difficulty accepting and forgiving myself for this decision. I didn't imagine this could happen. I thought it was a safe place", he lamented.
Stefani must respond for serious bodily injury, illegal practice of medicine for profit, embezzlement, crime against consumer relations and infractions related to the irregular use and sale of medicines. After undergoing a criminal examination, she was sent to the prison system.
