Alert about hundreds of doctors without a card that perform plastic surgeries on the border with the USA.
These so-called specialists operate in houses adapted as clinics, where the kitchen area becomes a sterilization zone
At least 400 general practitioners and doctors from other specialties practice as supposed plastic surgeons in Tamaulipas without having a professional license, warned the state College of Plastic Surgeons, warning about the health risk posed by this illegal practice.
According to Jose Daniel Sauza Franco, founder of the College and the organization's next president, said there are only 43 certified plastic surgeons in Tamaulipas, affiliated with the Mexican Association of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery (AMCPER), with proven training and experience. The rest, he said, perform procedures without official training or permits, which has led to medical tragedies in various cities in the state, mainly on the border.
"Many of these so-called specialists operate in houses adapted as clinics, where the kitchen area becomes a sterilization zone, and the dining room an operating room," Sauza Franco said in an interview. He added that the phenomenon has been concentrated in cities like Matamoros, Reynosa, and Nuevo Laredo, where medical tourism—from Texas, Oklahoma, Chicago, and Miami—has become a target for these fake doctors.
Medical Tourism and Social Media
The rise of cosmetic surgery on the border has been driven by advertising on social media, where procedures like liposuction, rhinoplasty, and liposculpture are promoted at “affordable” prices. However, Sauza Franco clarified that, in many cases, the costs are equal to or higher than those of a certified surgeon, which contradicts the perception of savings.
“We are seeing that these uncertified doctors charge even more than a professional. And what's worse: they operate without adequate facilities or surgical knowledge,” said the specialist.
One of the most recent cases that highlighted this problem occurred in Ciudad Madero, where the young Estela remains in critical condition after a liposuction performed by Jose Luis “N,” who did not have a professional license.The clinic was closed following an investigation by the Tamaulipas Attorney General's Office.
Jose Luis "N" advertised himself on social media as a member of the College of Specialists in Facial and Body Aesthetics AC, although that membership is not officially valid. He is also not listed in the College of Plastic Surgeons of Tamaulipas or the AMCPER.
The health crisis has claimed lives. According to the College, at least 10 people have died in Matamoros in the last two years after undergoing illegal plastic surgery. In 2023, an outbreak of fungal meningitis was reported associated with the use of contaminated anesthesia in unlicensed clinics, such as the Rivera Side Surgical Center and the K-3 Clinic.
A binational commission investigated 168 patients, all of whom underwent surgery at those clinics. The year closed with the closure of 16 establishments due to irregularities, including staff without professional accreditation.