𝗠𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗨𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗢𝗡𝗦, 𝟰𝟬𝟬 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗔𝗦, 𝟭𝟱𝟬 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗢𝗦

The rise of unlicensed plastic surgeons in Tamaulipas is fueling a public health crisis that has already left behind deaths, infections, and countless stories of malpractice. The city of Matamoros draws patients from both Mexico and the United States, and has become one of the most notorious hotspots, where local authorities and medical associations warn of a dangerous surge in unlicensed plastic lqqsurgeons.” 

According to the Tamaulipas College of Plastic Surgeons, more than 400 general practitioners and doctors from other specialties are illegally performing cosmetic procedures across the state with at least 150 operating in Matamoros alone. These individuals, who often advertise their services aggressively on social media, attract clients from Texas, Oklahoma, Chicago, and even Miami with promises of quick and affordable transformations.

The risks, however, are devastating. Infections such as E. coli, tissue death, blood clots, and fungal meningitis have all been linked to unlicensed procedures carried out in unsafe conditions. 

In 2023, a fungal outbreak traced to surgical instruments at clinics in Matamoros triggered an international investigation involving U.S. and Mexican health authorities. More than 20 patients, many of them American, contracted fungal meningitis after undergoing surgeries that used contaminated anesthesia. Authorities later discovered that makeshift operating rooms had been set up in converted homes, with kitchens repurposed as sterilization areas and dining rooms turned into surgical theaters. By the end of that year, 16 cosmetic clinics were shut down for lacking qualified staff and proper accreditation.

The case of Estela, a young woman now fighting for her life after a botched liposuction in Ciudad Madero, illustrates the dangers. The procedure was carried out by José Luis “N,” who falsely claimed to belong to professional medical associations. Investigators later confirmed he had no valid license, despite running a fully functioning clinic. His case mirrors dozens of others where unlicensed doctors operate under the guise of belonging to cosmetic or aesthetic associations that do not actually authorize surgical practice.

Between 2021 and 2023, at least 10 people died in Matamoros after undergoing procedures at uncertified clinics, according to data from the college.  The organization’s president-elect, Dr. José Daniel Sauza Franco, stresses that the public must demand proof of certification from surgeons and verify their credentials through official channels. “Many of these people have already been banned from practicing, but they continue operating, advertising online,” he warned. “They present master’s or doctorate degrees in aesthetics as credentials, but these are not licenses to practice surgery.”

Patients are often lured by the perception of lower prices, but Sauza Franco explains that fake surgeons may charge the same, or even more, than qualified specialists. While a licensed plastic surgeon with accredited facilities may charge around 100,000 Mexican pesos($5,309.40 USD) for a procedure, unlicensed operators frequently match or exceed those fees, banking on their ability to recruit foreign patients who are less familiar with Mexico’s medical regulations.

The problem extends far beyond Tamaulipas. Across Mexico, similar tragedies have been reported, including the death of influencer Denisse Reyes after a liposuction in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, and the death of 25-year-old Jaqueline Yamileth Briones Torres in Monterrey, Nuevo León, which led to the closure of the clinic where she was treated. Both cases highlight how widespread the phenomenon of unlicensed cosmetic surgery has become.

Authorities and medical associations continue to urge the public to exercise caution. Patients are advised to verify a surgeon’s credentials through the Consejo Mexicano de Cirugía Plástica Estética y Reconstructiva, confirm their professional licenses with the Secretaría de Educación Pública, and check that the clinic is accredited by the Consejo de Salubridad General or international bodies such as the Joint Commission International. Specialists also stress the importance of seeking second opinions, reviewing patient testimonials, and avoiding clinics that pressure clients into rushed decisions or advertise suspiciously low prices.

The Tamaulipas College of Plastic Surgeons insists that reporting malpractice is essential to combating this underground industry. Complaints can be filed with Cofepris, Mexico’s federal health regulator, and in cases of severe harm, with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. As demand for cosmetic procedures grows, experts fear that unless patients learn to recognize and avoid unlicensed practitioners, tragedies like those in Matamoros will continue to multiply.