ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — According to investigators, a patient sustained serious injuries when an Orlando woman employed at a medical spa mishandled her chin surgery.
The woman who authorities said is responsible, Gabriela Pereira, 29, didn’t have a medical license, and is now facing 20 felony charges, according to reports by NBC affiliate WESH.
Detectives said the patient visited Tonya Beauty Medical Spa on Park Center Drive in Orlando in 2024 for an endolaser treatment.
Pereira agreed to do the procedure for free, as long as the patient gave permission to post the results on the spa’s Instagram page, according to Felipe Mavromatis, an attorney representing the patient.
Mavromatis told WESH that his client went to the spa trusting they were “going to do a good job,” but was instead left with burns and blisters.
According to investigators, the laser was left on the patient’s chin area too long. Instead of sending the woman to a doctor, Pereia offered to fix the damage herself and even invited the patient to her home for follow-up procedures, Mavromatis said.
“Going as far as saying, look, come to my house, come to my home and I’ll do these procedures for you on the weekend — rather than saying go to the doctor… It’s kind of egregious,” he said.
The woman was eventually referred to a licensed specialist, who told her she had necrosis developing under her chin.
“At that point, even that clinician said, ‘This is above my skill level. Go to the hospital immediately. This is a life-or-death situation,’” Mavromatis said.
WESH tried to reach Pereira for comment but said she did not respond. The spa posted a statement in Portuguese on its Instagram page saying it was surprised by an inspection. The business also maintained that it has all the necessary licenses to operate.
An English translation of the post is below:
“NOTE OF CLARIFICATION In recent days, the Tonya Beauty clinic was surprised by an inspection action conducted by local authorities. In respect to our clients, partners, and collaborators, we inform that our legal team is already actively working to clarify all the points raised. We reinforce with total transparency that Tonya Beauty has all the necessary licenses for operation, always prioritizing customer safety, ethics, and quality in all procedures performed. With over 10 years of experience in the market, we have built a solid reputation based on trust, professionalism, and excellence in advanced aesthetics. We thank everyone who has accompanied us on this journey. We remain firm, committed to offering the best results, well-being, and care, always with responsibility and love for what we do. Sincerely, Tonya Beauty Team.”
According to the patient’s legal team, other people have shared similar complaints after visiting the spa. Mavromatis said there are plans to file a lawsuit over some of the concerns, such as negligence in hiring and supervision.
Pereira posted a $29,750 bond on the condition she surrender her passport, according to court documents obtained by WESH.
