Terrible plastic surgery story

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http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/11/19/cosmetic.surgeries/index.html

Not guilty plea in fake plastic surgeon case

One man says he woke up from procedure with female breasts

CNN) -- Lawyers for a man accused of pretending to be a plastic

surgeon and disfiguring patients filed a written not guilty plea

Friday in a Miami Circuit Court.

In 1999, several patients accused Reinaldo Silvestre, 64, of

severely bungling cosmetic surgeries.

According to Miami Beach Police, Silvestre, who was not licensed to

practice medicine, was posing as a plastic surgeon and had little

medical training.

Police allege Silvestre gave patients animal tranquilizers instead

of anesthesia and operated with nonsurgical instruments, such as a

spatula.

One patient of his -- a former Mr. Mexico named Baez --

claimed that instead of the more muscular chest he wanted, he was

given breast implants.

" When Mr. Baez finally woke up from this procedure he had two full

female breasts and had to walk around like that for several months

until the female breasts could be removed, " Baez's attorney, Spencer

Aronfeld, told CNN.

An arrest warrant was issued for Silvestre, who fled the country,

police said.

He was arrested and extradited from Belize last month by the State

Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, they said.

Investigators said a tip led them to Silvestre, who was teaching

classes to medical students at a university, they said.