Bodybuilder given breasts

2006-03-15 22:54

Miami - A bogus surgeon, known as "the Butcher of South Beach", was jailed for more than seven years on Wednesday after pleading guilty in Miami to disfiguring patients, including a bodybuilder who was given breasts.

Reinaldo Silvestre was convicted of aggravated battery and practising medicine without a licence after he admitted he had botched plastic surgeries in his illegal clinic in trendy south Miami Beach.

Among his victims was Alexander Baez, a champion bodybuilder and former Mr Mexico, who went to Silvestre's clinic in 1999 to get pectoral implants, but woke up to find he now owned C-cup breasts.

His attorney also said an anaesthetic normally reserved for animals was used during the operation.

Several women also claimed they were grossly disfigured after undergoing plastic surgery at the hands of the Cuban-born man.

Silvestre was sentenced to 7½ years' jail.

The phony physician had fled the country after a warrant was issued for his arrest in 1999, but was eventually found teaching medicine in Belize and was extradited in 2004.

- AFP