A man who posed as a doctor for a decade faces 10 years in prison for allegedly performing botched plastic surgery without a license.
Cristian Adrián Pérez Latorre, 53, deceived patients, celebrities and the media for years while running his surgery in Los Angeles.
But his ruse fell apart on Thursday when he was arrested and charged with “inflicting serious bodily injury” on a woman during three surgeries in 2021.
Latorre claimed on his social media accounts to be a board-certified plastic surgeon in Argentina and a “registered nurse assistant and facial specialist” in the U.S.
It is unclear whether he was certified in Argentina but lacked the required registration in the United States or whether he was not qualified at all.
Cristian Adrián Pérez Latorre, 53, deceived patients, celebrities and the media for years while running his surgery in Los Angeles.
His ruse collapsed on Thursday when he was arrested and charged with “inflicting grievous bodily harm” on a woman during three surgeries in 2021.
Latorre claimed on his social media accounts to be a board-certified plastic surgeon in Argentina and a “registered nurse assistant and facial specialist” in the U.S.
Judging by his social media activity, Latorre appeared to have lived in Los Angeles for at least the past decade and wrote in one post that he was originally from Barcelona.
Bizarre photo shoots with models promoted his services, showing him pretending to bandage them, or women lying next to him with marked surgical contours.
She posed with celebrities including the infamous “human Ken doll” Jessica Alves, who underwent more than 100 plastic surgeries to look like the Barbie character, and then had more to become a transgender woman.
Even major television channels believed he was legitimate, including CNN, which interviewed him for its Spanish-language edition in June 2014.
Latorre was interviewed extensively on Spanish-language television last year about the illness and subsequent death of Argentine actress Silvina Luna.
Luna died on August 31 last year from kidney disease related to a botched Brazilian butt lift she underwent in 2011 by discredited surgeon Anïbal Lotocki.
From his social media activity, Latorre appeared to have been living in Los Angeles for at least the past decade, writing in one post that he was originally from Barcelona.
Latorre poses with actor Mickey Rourke
Bizarre photo shoots with models promoted his services, showing women lying next to him with marked surgical contours.
Other promotional photos showed him simulating bandages on models after ‘surgery’.
He injected Luna with a liquid containing polymethylmethacrylate, which is banned by Argentina’s National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology.
The substance is a clear, rigid plastic that manufacturers use as a glass substitute in vehicle parts, lenses, panels and windows.
Luna needed medical attention in 2015 when she was treated for kidney stones. Doctors diagnosed her with kidney failure and hypercalcemia, and she was put on weekly dialysis treatments until she was able to receive a kidney transplant.
Latorre had surgery to remove the dangerous substance from her buttocks in 2016 after meeting him in Miami, though it was unclear where the surgery was performed.
Luna appeared alongside Latorre in an interview with Todas las Tardes just a few weeks before his death.
During another interview with Telefe NewsHe then claimed that Lotocki “poisoned” Luna with his procedure and gave him a “death sentence.”
“These autoimmune diseases caused by liquid silicone can be more complicated than cancer, because sometimes you can eliminate the cancer, but once it enters the bloodstream you can’t eradicate it. You’ve killed the patient,” he said.
Latorre operated on Silvina Luna, who appeared alongside Latorre in this interview with Todas las Tardes just a few weeks before her death
Luna died on August 31 last year from kidney disease related to a botched Brazilian butt lift she underwent in 2011 by disgraced surgeon Anïbal Lotocki.
Silvina Luna poses backstage in the press room of the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards Latin America at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami
Latorre was interviewed at length last year about Luna’s illness and death on Spanish-language television while undergoing surgery in 2016 to remove the dangerous substance from her buttocks.
A year later, he is behind bars on six counts of practicing medicine without a license, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault causing serious injury.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Latorre faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison.
Latorre allegedly performed the surgery on the woman on July 13, 2021, then treated her for infections related to the procedure on July 23 and again on Aug. 13 for additional complications.
“When an individual impersonates a physician and performs medical procedures without a license, they not only endanger lives but also erode the essential trust between patients and legitimate health care providers,” Gascón said.
Latorre posed with celebrities including the infamous “human Ken doll” Jessica Alves (far right), who underwent more than 100 plastic surgeries to look like the Barbie character, and then had more to become a transgender woman.
Latorre is behind bars on six counts of practicing medicine without a license, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault with serious injury.
Even major television networks believed he was legitimate, including CNN, which interviewed him for its Spanish-language edition in June 2014.
‘This act of deception threatens the integrity of our healthcare system and the trust 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 gravely violated.’
The case was investigated by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, whose investigation division chief, Kathleen Nicholls, said there was no excuse for Latorre’s alleged behavior.
“Anyone who breaks the law and endangers the health of others must face the consequences of their dangerous and selfish actions,” he said.
“We are grateful to our law enforcement partners and investigators who worked tirelessly on this case.”
Latorre allegedly performed the surgery on the woman on July 13, 2021, then treated her for infections related to the procedure on July 23 and again on Aug. 13 for additional complications.
Latorre in another interview with Spanish-language television