Prosecutors accuse Cristian Pérez Latorre of posing as a doctor and performing cosmetic surgery without a license

LOS ANGELES (CNS) — A Los Angeles man who allegedly performed cosmetic surgery on a woman without a medical license has been charged with assault and impersonating a doctor, the District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Cristian Perez Latorre, 53, was arrested Thursday by District Attorney investigators and released Friday on $150,000 bail, according to prosecutors and jail records.

Prosecutors said that on July 13, 2021, Latorre performed “unlicensed cosmetic surgery” on a woman. Ten days later, he treated the woman for infections that developed due to the surgery. On Aug. 13, 2021, he treated the woman again for additional surgical complications, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

He was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of assault with serious injury and six counts of practicing medicine without certification.

“When a person poses as a doctor and performs medical procedures without a license, they not only endanger lives, but they also erode the essential trust between patients and legitimate health care providers,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “This act of deception threatens the integrity of our health care system and the trust the community has in those dedicated to their well-being. We are committed to seeking justice for the victim, holding Mr. Latorre accountable, and restoring the trust that has been so gravely violated.”

According to prosecutors, Latorre could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Latorre’s Instagram page, which has more than 20,000 followers, describes him as a “certified plastic surgeon” specializing in facial treatments. What appears to be his LinkedIn page states that he has a medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires.