A mother from New York City, María Paz Peñaloza, has tragically passed away due to complications from a botched butt implant surgery. The 31-year-old was left brain dead following the procedure, which took place in a private home in Queens. The man accused of performing the surgery has been arrested as he attempted to flee to an airport.
Peñaloza went to the home of Felipe Hoyos-Foronda in March to have her implants removed. Her family shared that she was referred to him by a friend who had previously undergone surgery there. Unfortunately, after the procedure, Peñaloza had to be rushed away in an ambulance.
According to her sister, medical professionals tried for two-and-a-half hours to revive her after she arrived at the hospital. Peñaloza, a mother of two young boys, ages three and one, was taken off life support two weeks later due to lidocaine toxicity, which is a serious risk when too much is used.
Emergency responders called the police after arriving at the scene. Hoyos-Foronda was detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where he was allegedly trying to escape. He claimed to be a licensed practitioner in Colombia but does not hold a license to practice medicine in the United States. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree assault and unauthorized medical practice.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist her family in Colombia with travel expenses so they can say goodbye to Peñaloza. Her sister described María as a joyful person who loved being surrounded by family and enjoyed hosting gatherings during holidays.
