A Florida woman was arrested on felony charges after allegedly posing as a doctor and running a fake medical spa out of her backyard shed, according to local outlet WPBF.
Rosa Mena was arrested on multiple charges, including three counts of aggravated battery and three counts of practicing medicine without a license after an unidentified victim claimed she wound up with facial paralysis, WPBF reported. The victim told investigators she visited Mena’s alleged backyard spa for Botox injections and received a second “treatment” from Mena, which did not correct the problem, the report said.
According to USA Today, the victim asked to see Mena’s license and certifications, which she was allegedly unable to provide, and she told the victim she was a doctor from the Dominican Republic, police said.
Police discovered medical beds, fat sculpting machines, and injectable devices for fillers and Botox among other medical equipment while executing a search warrant of Mena’s home, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Brazilian Woman Allegedly Acquires Diploma Online For $8, Poses As Doctor To Treat Patients)
Photos of medical equipment and the exam room allegedly inside Mena’s shed were shared via a Facebook post from the Port St. Lucie Police Department. In the post, police reminded area residents to stay safe and do their research before having medical treatments.
“We want to remind the public to research the facility and individual prior to performing procedures. Additionally, in order to perform injectable procedures like Botox it needs to be performed by a licensed professional. Your safety is our priority!” police said.
Although Mena allegedly did not run a legitimate medical spa, the practice is not uncommon, according to Dr. Brian Hass, a Palm Beach Gardens-based plastic surgeon. Hass told WPBF he has heard about similar scams in Miami.
“I’m disappointed to hear it. It’s not shocking,” Hass said.
“Those are real medical treatments,” Hass said of Botox injections. “And just as you wouldn’t want to put bad gas in your car, you shouldn’t let anything bad go into your body,” he added, according to WPBF.
Mena is currently being held in the St. Lucie County Jail, USA Today indicated. The woman who claimed she received Mena’s “treatments” is reportedly consulting with a licensed doctor about her paralysis.