Woman's Face Slashed: Illegal Beauty Procedure in Vienna Apartment Ended in Hospital

On February 11, the police were alerted around 5:45 PM due to a botched and presumably illegal cosmetic procedure in an apartment in Vienna-Landstraße. On-site, employees of the Vienna emergency medical services had already begun emergency medical first aid for a woman who was bleeding heavily in the facial area. She had to be admitted to a hospital and undergo emergency surgery due to her life-threatening condition, but she is now in stable condition.

Complications During Surgical Procedure in Vienna Apartment

It turned out that the 58-year-old had undergone a surgical procedure in the apartment to have her chin tightened. The 35-year-old suspect, who claims to be a practicing plastic surgeon in his home country of Georgia, is believed to have repeatedly used the apartment, which can be booked on an online rental platform, for illegal procedures. On Tuesday afternoon, the 58-year-old, accompanied by a friend, went to the makeshift operating table in the apartment on Wassergasse.

During the operation, the 35-year-old made several cuts in the area of the neck, ears, and chin. However, this suddenly led to breathing difficulties. The Georgian apparently injected the woman with a medication, after which her condition deteriorated to such an extent that the Austrian woman's companion and the man's acquaintance raised the alarm and notified the emergency services.

"We asked him what he injected her with. But he was not very cooperative and did not tell us," said Andreas Huber, spokesperson for the emergency services, about the incident. The emergency services subsequently notified the police.

Surgical Instruments and Treatment Equipment Secured

During the search of the building, the officers found not only surgical instruments, additional medical equipment, cleaning devices for surgical equipment, and professional disinfection and sterilization utensils, but also price lists and informational material about procedures. Accordingly, various procedures "from eyelid tightening to face-lifting" were likely offered at a price range of 500 to 2,500 euros.

The 35-year-old was arrested on suspicion of serious bodily harm. He refused to make any statements and, according to the police, does not have a license to practice as a doctor in Austria. His claims regarding his job as a surgeon in Georgia are still under investigation, it was said.

Acquaintance Allegedly Rented Apartment for Suspect

The witness told investigators that her friend only wanted to undergo a follow-up examination after treatment at another practice. The second man made similar statements. However, the police assume that the woman had come for an operation.

The suspect's acquaintance (also Georgian) is said to have rented the apartment for his 35-year-old acquaintance, whom he knows "from a medical stay in Georgia." His role is still considered unclear by the police.

The 35-year-old is in a detention center. The Office for Immediate Measures and the Financial Police have been involved. On Wednesday, the police warned against dubious providers of beauty procedures and medical treatments: "We strongly advise having treatments only performed by licensed doctors."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.