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Miami MedSpa Horror: Patients Scarred by Unlicensed Practitioner
26 Jul
Summary
- Two Miami women suffered severe complications from procedures by an unlicensed practitioner.
- One patient endured emergency surgery for a life-threatening infection.
- Another patient required facial reconstruction due to paralysis.
Two women in Miami are still recovering from severe complications after undergoing cosmetic procedures at Guarino Academy, a medical spa founded by Enrico Guarino. Guarino, who identified himself as an "internationally trained aesthetic physician," allegedly performed treatments without a medical license in Florida.
One patient, Paola Berretti, underwent a fat-melting procedure that resulted in a life-threatening streptococcus infection, requiring emergency surgery and hospitalization. The other, Maria Cantone, experienced facial paralysis after a laser facelift, leading to extensive reconstructive surgery and prolonged recovery. Both women filed complaints with the Florida Department of Health, which is investigating Guarino.
Further allegations include claims from a third woman, Tatiana Magarik, who is suing Guarino for alleged negligence causing severe burns. Investigations into Guarino's credentials reveal he holds a nursing license but faced state action to revoke or suspend it due to misrepresentation of academic qualifications. An administrative complaint filed in April 2024 also questioned his nursing credentials, citing alleged misrepresentations about graduating from a closed nursing school implicated in a diploma scheme.
