FL Woman Left Disfigured by Phony Surgeon

The sterile room, the white coat, the polished Instagram^® page — everything about Manuel Jose Lazzaro's image screamed legitimacy. But authorities now say it was all a façade. A Florida woman is left permanently disfigured after a cosmetic procedure performed by a man who, according to investigators, was never a licensed surgeon at all.

A Promising Offer Turns Into a Nightmare

In September 2024, a woman from Orlando traveled to Miami, lured by a plastic surgeon's social media page filled with promises of transformation and beauty. She believed she was in the hands of a professional. But prosecutors allege that Manuel Jose Lazzaro, 58, had no legal right to practice medicine in the state of Florida.

The woman underwent breast surgery at New World Medical & Mystic Cosmetic Center, a facility that has since drawn intense scrutiny. Shortly after returning home, she began to experience alarming complications. Her breasts became infected — but when she contacted Lazzaro, he allegedly dismissed her concerns and failed to refer her to a legitimate doctor.

The Allegations and Arrest

According to Telemundo 51, the woman returned to Miami multiple times for follow-up care from Lazzaro, trusting that he would help. Instead, her condition worsened. She reportedly suffered the complete loss of a nipple — an injury prosecutors attribute to medical neglect and Lazzaro's lack of qualifications, as reported by PEOPLE.

On April 10, 2025, Lazzaro was arrested on a felony charge of unlicensed health care causing serious bodily injury. He has pleaded not guilty.

Authorities revealed that he does not hold a medical license in Florida, and state records do not show any pending applications.

Despite this, his social media presence painted a different picture: "Dr. Lazzaro Venezuelan certified Plastic Surgeon in aesthetics, face, breast & body sculpture," reads the bio of his Instagram profile according to PEOPLE — which remains live and boasts more than 2,300 followers.

A Pattern of Deception

Shockingly, Lazzaro is not the first person from the same clinic to face similar charges. Just weeks before his arrest, another man, Wilson Muñoz Suarez, was also taken into custody for allegedly conducting unlicensed surgeries at the same New World Medical facility. Both men listed their occupation as "surgical assistant" in arrest reports yet promoted themselves online as fully licensed doctors.

In a statement to NBC Miami, The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office spokesman Joseph Peguero said, "If you are thinking or have done a procedure, to please do your homework, a lot of these doctors making these plastic surgeries, they have no licenses, the majority of them don't even take insurances so that should be an automatic red flag. You are playing with your life and it could cost you."

A System Under the Microscope

The investigation has raised broader questions about oversight and accountability. How did someone without a license not only perform surgery but also manage to appear on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) website? According to the ASPS, it "does not undertake to independently verify the information provided by its members that appears in these profiles or current licensure/certification status," the Miami Herald reported.

While Lazzaro's background includes references to Venezuelan medical institutions and claimed years of surgical experience, none of that translated to a valid license in the United States.

Moving Forward — With Caution

For now, the woman at the center of the case continues to recover, both physically and emotionally. Her story is a stark reminder that flashy social media profiles and sleek clinic branding can sometimes hide dangerous realities. As investigators dig deeper, more details are likely to emerge about how such deception went unchecked for so long.

This case, while shocking, is not unique. And it leaves you — the consumer — with a warning. Always verify credentials, check license databases, and when in doubt, get a second opinion. Because when it comes to your health, appearances can be painfully deceiving.

References: She Thought He Was a Licensed Surgeon | Doral Man Arrested for Performing Unlicensed Surgery | One Miami Surgery Center, Two Men Accused of Unlicensed Cosmetic Surgeries