A tragic incident took place as a 31-year-old mother-of-two passed away after undergoing a cosmetic surgery gone wrong by an unlicensed practitioner in Queens. Maria Penaloza Cabrera, a Colombian national, tragically lost her life on April 11 after being declared brain-dead following a botched butt lift implant removal procedure on March 28. The procedure was reportedly performed by 38-year-old Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, who used a syringe to administer lidocaine, leading to Cabrera going into cardiac arrest.
Lidocaine, a local anesthetic and FDA-approved cardiac medication, was identified as the cause of the tragic outcome, according to the National Library of Medicine (NIH).
The victim’s sister, Linney Peaaloza Cabrera, revealed that Maria had gone for the procedure based on a friend’s recommendation. The friend who accompanied Maria to the appointment had to call for an ambulance, not fully aware of the severity of the situation.
Despite efforts by medical professionals to revive Maria Cabrera for two and a half hours, she was determined to have no brain function and was deemed unlikely to recover, as per an internal police report obtained by The New York Times.
Hoyos-Foronda was apprehended at John F Kennedy International Airport on the same day while attempting to flee to Colombia. He faces charges of second-degree assault and unauthorized practice of a profession.
An ongoing investigation by the Queens District Attorney’s Office is looking into the case, with the suspected cause of death being lidocaine toxicity.
It was revealed that Hoyos-Foronda operated an illegal liposuction clinic in Ditmars Steinway, New York, and promoted his cosmetic services, including Botox, on TikTok. His TikTok page, now deleted, displayed videos and photos of individuals undergoing procedures, as reported by USA Today.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Maria Cabrera’s family to support her relatives in traveling from Colombia to the US for final farewells.
The fundraiser has garnered nearly $6,400 towards its $20,000 goal, aiming to assist the family during this difficult time. Maria Cabrera leaves behind two young children, and the official cause of her untimely death is still under investigation by the Chief Medical Examiner’s office.
