$2 million bail bond for pair accused of illegal cosmetic surgery

Sep 10 2007

A court in San Jose has slapped a $1 million bail bond each on two people accused of performing illegal plastic surgeries.

The man and woman Ha Nguyen, 48, and Zybigniew Makowski, 62, were arrested last week after police officers raided the San Jose home where the couple were allegedly performing cosmetic surgeries; their home was said to be filthy.

Nguyen has never been licensed to practice medicine in the state of California; Makowski is said to be the accomplice and was involved in transporting patients to the house and helping to clean wounds.

The police officers apparently uncovered drugs, used and unused syringes lying around in the family home where four children live; a 1-year-old was home at the time of the arrests.

The children have now been removed from the home by child welfare officials.

The illegal surgery was discovered after a female victim contacted authorities because of disfiguring scars across both of her eyebrows and under her lip, as a result of a botched facelift carried out by the pair.

The woman also had a 15- to 18-inch scar under her navel, the result of an unsuccessful tummy tuck, and is now disfigured as a result.

Authorities say at least nine other alleged victims are reluctant to press charges but Nguyen and Makowski are due to appear in court on September 14th.

They will enter a plea to charges of child endangerment, practicing medicine without a license, conspiracy to practice medicine without a license and improper collection, handling and storage of biological specimens.

Anyone who may have been treated by Nguyen or Makowski is advised to contact the Medical Board of California's San Jose District Office at (408) 437-3680.