Florida Woman Faces 2 Felonies After Performing Illegal Cosmetic Procedures In Her Garage
Would you ever consider performing a surgical procedure in a suburban garage without a license? One Florida woman has been arrested for doing just that to an unknown amount of victims. Alejandra Tobon is registered as an electrologist and a massage therapist, but not licensed to perform Botox and the other medical procedures for which she is being charged. Now, she is currently facing two third-degree felonies. Although there is only one victim known as of yet, the Pembroke Pines Police Department Investigations Bureau is urging anyone who may have had a procedure done by Tobon to step forward.
Tobon, 43, outfitted her Pembroke Pines garage to look like a medical office. Investigators believe she performed Botox procedures, filler and vitamin injections, and Carboxytherapy (a method of removing stretch marks after pregnancy), according to the NY Daily News. Tobon’s activities came to light after a past client of hers informed police that they had a bad reaction to a Botox injection administered in Tobon’s garage. Tobon is currently being charged with the crimes of unlicensed practice of health care profession and practicing medicine without a license.
Neighbors are surprised by the alleged activities in Tobon’s garage. “I’m in shock, you know, because sometimes you see the neighbors walking around saying, ‘Hi’ in the morning. But that’s it. So I’m in shock,” Dulce Lopez, a neighbor of Tobon, told CBS Miami.
Botox injections are the best known of a group of medications that use various forms of botulinum toxin to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. The toxin is produced by the microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. Although it is most popularly used to reduce the appearance of some facial wrinkles, Botox injections are also used to treat problems such as repetitive neck spasms, excessive sweating, overactive bladder, and causes of crossed eyes. When performed by an experienced doctor, Botox injections are relatively safe. If administered incorrectly, though, Botox reactions can be dangerous. The most common side effect is swelling or bruising at the injection site, headaches, or flu-like symptoms.
See more below: