A Queens woman has died following a horrifying botched surgery allegedly performed by a man posing as a plastic surgeon on TikTok, according to police and prosecutors.
Maria Peñaloza, 31, suffered cardiac arrest and was later declared brain-dead after Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, 38, attempted to remove her butt implants inside his New York apartment — a procedure he reportedly had no medical license to perform.
Authorities say the alleged fake surgeon used lidocaine on Peñaloza during the unlicensed operation at his Queens home on March 28. Prosecutors from the Queens District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the procedure took place “without a license to do so and while not in a medical facility,” according to the criminal complaint, the NYPD told ABC News.
After administering the drug, Peñaloza went into cardiac arrest. Emergency responders were called to the scene and rushed her to Astoria General Hospital. There, she was intubated and later declared brain-dead, court documents reveal. A treating physician at the hospital reported that she showed symptoms of “lidocaine toxicity” and warned she was “not likely to survive.”
Hoyos-Foronda was arrested following the incident while attempting to flee to Colombia, officials said. He has since been charged with second-degree assault and unauthorized practice of a profession, according to the NYPD. He is currently being held at Otis Bantum Correctional Center in East Elmhurst, New York. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 28.
The case remains under active investigation, and officials suggest the charges could be upgraded following Peñaloza’s death. “Whenever circumstances change in a case, we re-examine the charges,” the Queens District Attorney’s office said in a statement. “This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and we cannot provide further comment.”
The shocking case has raised new concerns about unlicensed cosmetic procedures being advertised on social media platforms like TikTok. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are urging the public to verify medical credentials before undergoing any procedures, especially from individuals promoting services online.
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