A woman who falsely claimed to be a cosmetic surgeon in Brooklyn was indicted on Friday after allegedly performing a Brazilian butt lift without a medical license, leaving a 46-year-old woman with life-threatening injuries.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez identified the defendant as Nargiza Shukurova, 39, of Uzbekistan. Shukurova allegedly deceived the victim by presenting herself as a licensed medical professional and performing a surgery she was not legally qualified to conduct. The procedure, conducted in a Sheepshead Bay salon, resulted in severe injuries, required extensive medical care and nearly cost the victim her life.
The defendant was arraigned on charges including second-degree assault, third-degree assault, unauthorized practice of a profession, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree reckless endangerment.
Investigators said Brazilian butt lift procedures carry the highest mortality rate of any cosmetic surgery and must be performed with extreme care by licensed professionals. Despite this, the defendant allegedly advertised cosmetic services on social media under the names Dr. Nargiza and Dr. Nargis, offering butt enlargement, buttocks shape correction, Barbie lips and other procedures, along with before-and-after photos. She was not licensed to practice medicine in New York State and was not authorized to perform a BBL.
The investigation found that on May 7, 2023, the defendant allegedly performed a BBL on the victim at Fleur de Beaute Salon in Sheepshead Bay, a location not authorized by the state to conduct surgical procedures. The defendant failed to take the victim’s medical history, did not perform a basic physical exam and did not follow standard surgical protocols, according to Gonzalez.
In the days following the procedure, the victim began experiencing severe complications, including a life-threatening infection. As her condition worsened, the defendant allegedly discouraged her from seeking immediate medical care and instead attempted to treat her herself.
Nearly three weeks after the procedure, the victim lost consciousness at home and was rushed to a hospital, where she underwent about a dozen surgeries over a two-month period to treat an infection that nearly killed her. During the victim’s hospitalization, the defendant allegedly left messages asking her to lie to medical staff about the procedure and to conceal the defendant’s identity, according to officials.
“This defendant is accused of deceiving a victim by falsely presenting herself as though she were licensed to practice medicine and conducting a high-risk surgery she was not legally qualified to perform," Gonzalez said. "The alleged conduct left the victim with life-threatening injuries and required extensive medical care.
The defendant was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 9. Bail was set at $25,000 cash or $200,000 bond and she is due back in court on March 25.
