ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) – The patient is seriously injured after investigators say an Orlando woman who worked at a medical spa has lost jaw surgery.
The woman authorities said was responsible, Gabriella Pereira, 29, who didn’t have a medical license, but now faces 20 felony charges, according to a report by NBC affiliate WESH.
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Detectives said the patient visited Tonya Beauty Medical Spa on Park Center Drive in Orlando in 2024 for end laser treatment.
According to Felipe Mablomatis, a lawyer representing the patient, Pereira agreed to carry out the procedure for free as long as the patient has given permission to post results on the spa’s Instagram page.
Mavromatis told Wesh that his client went to the spa, trusting him that he “we’re going to do a good job,” but instead had burns and blisters left.
Investigators said the laser remained too long in the patient’s jaw area. Instead of sending the woman to a doctor, Pereira offered to herself to correct the damage and invited the patient to her home for a follow-up procedure, Mablomatis said.
“Speak, look, come to my house, come to my house, I’ll do these steps over the weekend – not go to the doctor…it’s kind of awful,” he said.
The woman was eventually referred to a licensed professional and he told her that she was necrotic under her chin.
“At that point, even the clinicians said, “This is above my skill level. I’m going to the hospital right away. This is a life-or-death situation,” Mablomatis said.
Wesh tried to reach Pereira for the comment but she said she didn’t respond. The SPA has posted a statement in Portuguese on its Instagram page. The business also claimed that it had all the licenses needed to operate.
The English translation of the post can be found below.
“With a close eye on recent clarifications, Tonya Beauty Clinic was surprised by the testing measures implemented by local governments. With regard to clients, partners and collaborators, our legal team is already actively and actively working to enhance transparency. We are grateful to everyone who has been accompanying us on this journey, sincerely and to everyone who agrees with us for what we are doing.
According to the patient’s legal team, others have shared similar complaints after visiting the SPA. Mavromatis said he plans to file a lawsuit over several concerns, including employment and supervision negligence.
According to court documents obtained by WESH, Pereira posted a $29,750 bond on the terms of her waiver of her passport.
