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♪ ♪
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VAN ZELLER: We've been,
you know, waiting
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for this moment for so long.
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I start getting
anxious beforehand.
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VOICE (over computer): Welcome.
Please take your ticket.
Please drive inside.
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VAN ZELLER: So I don't
know a lot about this person.
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I just know that
he's willing to talk.
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I've reported on black
market surgeries overseas.
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VAN ZELLER: But now, a
series of suspicious deaths.
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VAN ZELLER: Have led
me home to America.
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Where young women are checking
in for plastic surgery and
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never checking out.
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REPORTER (over TV): A
family is heartbroken.
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REPORTER (over TV):
Is conducting a death
investigation.
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REPORTER (over TV): Another
tragedy out of South Florida.
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REPORTER (over TV): Patient
REPORTER (over TV): Range in
age from 29 to 35.
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REPORTER (over TV):
31‐year‐old Latesha Bynum.
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REPORTER (over TV):
Is in London.
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REPORTER (over TV):
Kelly Mayhew.
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REPORTE (over TV):
Danea Plasencia.
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REPORTER (over TV):
Ria Valeria.
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REPORTER (over TV): Died after
undergoing the same procedure.
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VAN ZELLER: I followed a trail
of money, sex, and blood.
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From the strip clubs of Atlanta
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to a strip mall clinic in Miami.
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And to these people
whose claims of greed‐driven
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managers and dangerous
practices could destroy
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an entire industry.
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Why hasn't anyone come
out and spoken, like you?
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♪ ♪
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VAN ZELLER: I'll
just follow you.
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NIKKI: About to have my
bubble scene with my man.
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VAN ZELLER: My journey to
understand why so many young
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women are dying starts here
on the set of a music video.
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♪ Cold bitch ♪
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♪ And I'm from the 317 ♪
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♪ Tall bitch ♪
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♪ Kick her ass with a size 11 ♪
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♪ No hoe shit ♪ ♪
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VAN ZELLER: So this is just
a little part of the video.
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NIKKI: Yeah.
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VAN ZELLER: And this
one is called? The song?
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VAN ZELLER: Nikki Sweets is an
up‐and‐coming hip hop artist
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looking to leverage her
social media following
into global stardom.
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NIKKI: The image that
people wanna see on TV
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is the curvaceous woman.
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The more curvaceous you are,
the more attractive you are to
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the crowd that
you're selling to.
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Like Nikki Minaj has the
fattest ass and she's like the
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biggest female artist.
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VAN ZELLER: Ten years ago,
Nikki didn't have the money
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for plastic surgery.
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So she paid a stranger for
black market injections.
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NIKKI: To get my ass
done was only like $700.
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VAN ZELLER: Wow.
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NIKKI: One of the worst
experiences of my life.
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It was very painful, because
I was up the whole time.
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There was no numbing,
it was just, "Lay down.
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I'm going to stick these needles
and I'mma fill you up."
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And.
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VAN ZELLER: What was it?
What was.
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NIKKI: It was silicone.
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It was silicone injected
into my ass at that time.
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Results were just like that.
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VAN ZELLER: Really?
NIKKI: Yeah.
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VAN ZELLER: Like
the moment you left.
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NIKKI: The moment it happened
I looked in the mirror and
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my ass was bigger.
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VAN ZELLER: Wow.
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Did you know what you
were getting yourself
into at the time?
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Did you know
what it was going...
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NIKKI: No.
VAN ZELLER: To feel like or.
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NIKKI: I mean, people talk,
there was so many girls
that did it.
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Years later I kept hearing
about girls dying from it.
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Infections and stuff.
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To this day, I
still get scared,
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like, am I going to be next?
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You know, like, is something
going to happen to me next?
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VAN ZELLER: Like
any black market,
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the trade in these illegal
injections is driven by demand.
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And just like in
drugs or guns,
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the transactions you
hear about are the
ones that go wrong.
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REPORTER (over TV):
35‐year‐old Wakesha Reid died.
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ANCHOR (over TV): She died afte
a silicone beauty injection.
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REPORTER (over TV): Kelly Mayhe
died after a procedure in this.
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REPORTER (over TV): 31‐year‐old
Latesha Bynum suffered
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severe complications after
buttock enhancement injection.
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VAN ZELLER: Behind every one of
these fatalities is a pumper,
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a shadowy figure
illegally injecting women with
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anything from medical
silicone to furniture polish.
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How many people do you
think will be here tonight?
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D'NISHA: Every
section is sold.
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VAN ZELLER: Really?
D'NISHA: Yes.
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VAN ZELLER: It's sold‐out?
D'NISHA: Yes.
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VAN ZELLER: And
to find a pumper,
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I thought I'd start by seeking
out women who rely on curves
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to make a living.
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How long have you been
waitressing here for?
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D'NISHA: Since we
opened two years ago.
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VAN ZELLER: So it's
gonna be a big night?
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D'NISHA: Huge.
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VAN ZELLER: My guide,
D'nisha Kidwell,
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has offered to take
me on her rounds,
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as she selects the dancers who
will work the floor tonight.
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D'NISHA: This is
the dressing room.
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VAN ZELLER: Whoa,
it's packed already.
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Oh, wow. Hi.
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DANCER: Hi.
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VAN ZELLER: How are you?
DANCER: How are you?
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VAN ZELLER: Hi.
How are you? Hi everyone.
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DANCER: Hi.
VAN ZELLER: Hi.
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DANCER: So cute.
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D'NISHA: So these are the
outfits that they gave us.
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If they don't
come with an outfit,
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they have the option of
buying one here from her.
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They just make
sure that they're...
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VAN ZELLER: And it's.
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D'NISHA: Well taken
care of for the night.
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VAN ZELLER: For sale?
D'NISHA: Yes.
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VAN ZELLER: They can
buy their stuff here?
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D'NISHA: Yes. Yes.
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VAN ZELLER: Competition
to work here is fierce.
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Before any of these
dancers are hired,
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they have to
pass a body check.
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VAN ZELLER: Those women
selected will pay the club up
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to $400 to dance here,
just for a single night.
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D'NISHA: Okay, turn around.
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All the way. Okay.
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VAN ZELLER: Dancers jump
through these hoops because
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the upside is enormous.
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♪ I know you want me,
stand beside me ♪
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VAN ZELLER: Attention.
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♪ To make ♪
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VAN ZELLER: Opportunity.
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♪ Yourself ♪
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VAN ZELLER: And a share.
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♪ Feel ♪
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VAN ZELLER: Of this.
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♪ Like you're mine ♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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VAN ZELLER: On a good
night, a dancer can
clear up to $10,000.
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All of which can make both
legal cosmetic surgery and
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illegal procedures like
getting pumped seem like
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a good idea.
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All these women have big boobs
and big butts, right?
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MAN: They're taking in their
waist or they're spreading out
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their hips and really
getting those big butts.
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VAN ZELLER: How many women
that work here do you think
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have had plastic surgery or some
sort of body modifications?
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MAN: It's, it's in
the 90% probably.
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MAN 2: Yeah.
VAN ZELLER: 90%?
MAN: Yeah.
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It's, basically you
just walking into the,
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what you see on TV,
pretty much.
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VAN ZELLER: And what
you see on TV and
social media is this.
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Celebrities and influencers
with the kind of curves that
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are inspiring a generation of
young women to buy the look
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with cosmetic surgery.
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In reality, changing the
shape of women's bodies
is not a new trend.
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Back in the 1890s, Austrian
doctors first performed
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breast augmentations using
injections of melted wax.
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And through the 1940s,
Japanese sex workers were
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pumped with industrial
silicone to increase their
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earning power
with American GIs.
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In both cases, the risks taken
by women proved disastrous.
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WOMAN: (bleep).
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(screaming).
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D'NISHA: They like that.
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VAN ZELLER: Are you happy
with how your body looks now?
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D'NISHA: I am, but I'm going
to get a tune up and I'm going
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to get some things readjusted.
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VAN ZELLER: Yeah, I mean, you
look beautiful. I don't think
you need anything done.
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D'NISHA: Thank you.
Thank you. But I just,
I just, it's just me.
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VAN ZELLER: Uh‐huh.
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D'NISHA: So, for me, if
I look in the mirror,
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I wanna feel confident.
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So that makes,
that helps me out.
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And I feel like if my
confidence level is up here,
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my money is up here.
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VAN ZELLER: Have you
heard of women getting,
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uh, butt injections?
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D'NISHA: Yes.
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VAN ZELLER: Did
you ever do that?
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D'NISHA: No comment.
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VAN ZELLER: Is that
something that when women,
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if they get butt
inject, butt injections,
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they usually don't
wanna talk about it?
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D'NISHA: Um, yes.
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Um, a lot of people
don't wanna talk about that.
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VAN ZELLER:
Because it's not legal?
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D'NISHA: Right.
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VAN ZELLER: Um, do you
know anyone who gives shots?
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D'NISHA: Gives them? No.
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VAN ZELLER: I mean, we would
love to interview somebody who
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gives shots and we wouldn't
show their face and we
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wouldn't disclose
their identity.
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And we would just
like to talk to them.
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D'NISHA: Like, if I
knew who does them,
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I couldn't tell you who it is.
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VAN ZELLER: None of the women
at the club would connect us
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to a pumper.
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And that's not a surprise.
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In this community, pumpers are
underworld figures who carry
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status, cash, and guns.
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SHEENA: I know a pumper.
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They came in and they had guns
and they made sure they put
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the guns right there
so we can see them.
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VAN ZELLER: There's a
wall of fear out there.
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And I'm hoping insiders and
former clients will help me
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break through it.
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Is she still injecting?
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VANCIE (over computer):
Yes, she is.
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VAN ZELLER: Do you think that
considering the fact that what
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she's doing is illegal,
she will talk to us?
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VANCIE (over computer): I know
that a lot of them won't.
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VAN ZELLER: All I need is
the right introduction.
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How would you even go
about here in Atlanta
to look for a pumper?
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MARCELLA: There's no
benefit interviewing with you.
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There's absolutely no benefit.
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It's not even
worth it for them.
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VAN ZELLER: How much money
do you think they're making?
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SHEENA: Oh, my goodness
(bleep) told me she made
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$1 million one year.
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VAN ZELLER: No way.
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So there's one very
famous pumper here in Atlanta.
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SHEENA: Yes.
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VAN ZELLER: That we
keep hearing about.
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And I was wondering if you
think there's any way that we
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could connect with her?
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SHEENA (over phone): I really
think it's gonna be,
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it's gonna be difficult.
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VAN ZELLER: As any
journalist will tell you,
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00:09:46,419 --> 00:09:49,714
the harder you work,
the luckier you get.
233
00:09:49,714 --> 00:09:52,050
And after scouring
this city for pumpers,
234
00:09:52,050 --> 00:09:54,344
I finally find a lead.
235
00:09:54,344 --> 00:09:58,056
So Jenny, we got your number
here in Atlanta from somebody
236
00:09:58,056 --> 00:10:00,266
who said you've
been injected before?
237
00:10:00,266 --> 00:10:02,143
JENNY (over phone):
Yeah, yeah, I have.
238
00:10:02,143 --> 00:10:04,479
VAN ZELLER: And we've
been looking for somebody
that will talk to us.
239
00:10:04,479 --> 00:10:06,189
JENNY (over phone): Oh, you
wanna talk to an injector?
240
00:10:06,189 --> 00:10:08,191
VAN ZELLER: An injector
that would talk to us.
241
00:10:08,191 --> 00:10:10,068
JENNY (over phone):
Yeah, I know someone.
242
00:10:20,203 --> 00:10:22,122
JENNY (over phone):
You know what I mean?
243
00:10:22,122 --> 00:10:24,124
VAN ZELLER: Yeah.
I mean, Jenny, it would be
great if you could reach out
244
00:10:24,124 --> 00:10:25,625
to her and see
if we could talk.
245
00:10:25,625 --> 00:10:27,252
You can tell her we're just
really interested in hearing
246
00:10:27,252 --> 00:10:30,130
her side of the story,
why she does what she does.
247
00:10:35,176 --> 00:10:38,680
VAN ZELLER: So, wait, so, is
it common that people sell
248
00:10:38,680 --> 00:10:40,348
injectors' phone numbers?
249
00:10:40,348 --> 00:10:41,724
JENNY (over phone):
It is common.
250
00:10:41,724 --> 00:10:43,309
VAN ZELLER: Uh‐hmm. Yeah.
251
00:10:43,309 --> 00:10:45,979
That's complicated because
we don't pay for interviews.
252
00:10:45,979 --> 00:10:48,940
JENNY (over phone): Okay.
I have to get back to you.
253
00:10:48,940 --> 00:10:50,775
I have to ask her if she's
okay with that first and then
254
00:10:50,775 --> 00:10:52,110
I'll let you know.
255
00:10:52,110 --> 00:10:54,320
VAN ZELLER: Okay.
256
00:10:59,742 --> 00:11:02,036
(phone ringing).
257
00:11:02,036 --> 00:11:06,249
When Jenny texts me back,
the news is even better
than I'd hoped for.
258
00:11:06,791 --> 00:11:10,003
So supposedly
she's here already,
259
00:11:10,003 --> 00:11:13,256
just have to figure
out exactly where.
260
00:11:14,549 --> 00:11:18,428
Her contact, a legendary
Atlanta pumper named Ms. T
261
00:11:18,428 --> 00:11:20,430
has agreed to a meeting.
262
00:11:20,430 --> 00:11:23,516
Hey, yeah, so we
are here already.
263
00:11:23,516 --> 00:11:25,476
But I'm not sure
where you are.
264
00:11:27,562 --> 00:11:30,106
Do you see me?
265
00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:32,734
Okay, is that you right here?
266
00:11:32,734 --> 00:11:34,527
Yeah, okay, I see.
267
00:11:34,527 --> 00:11:36,571
Yeah, okay, we'll follow you.
268
00:11:36,905 --> 00:11:39,657
Ms. T is on her way
to inject a client.
269
00:11:39,657 --> 00:11:42,702
And she's invited us to
witness a motel room procedure
270
00:11:42,702 --> 00:11:45,538
that could land her
10 years in jail.
271
00:11:45,955 --> 00:11:46,831
MS T: How you feel?
272
00:11:46,831 --> 00:11:48,583
AMBER: I'm okay.
273
00:11:48,583 --> 00:11:51,211
VAN ZELLER: Because when
things go wrong in this
business, people die.
274
00:11:51,586 --> 00:11:53,171
MS T: You ready?
275
00:12:02,847 --> 00:12:07,435
♪ ♪
276
00:12:07,685 --> 00:12:10,188
VAN ZELLER: This is it.
We have someone.
277
00:12:10,188 --> 00:12:12,857
Just make sure you
don't put the cameras
on the car, you know?
278
00:12:12,857 --> 00:12:15,777
We don't wanna
make her nervous.
279
00:12:16,527 --> 00:12:20,198
Ms. T has led us to a motel
on the outskirts of Atlanta.
280
00:12:20,740 --> 00:12:23,159
She has set
conditions for filming.
281
00:12:23,159 --> 00:12:24,702
She wants us to
conceal her voice,
282
00:12:24,702 --> 00:12:27,789
her identity,
and her location.
283
00:12:29,457 --> 00:12:33,503
At exactly 11pm, we are
to meet her in room 306.
284
00:12:39,884 --> 00:12:45,098
♪ ♪
285
00:12:51,145 --> 00:12:53,147
MS T: Take your body
closer to me this way.
286
00:12:53,147 --> 00:12:55,275
Yeah, just like this.
This is fine.
287
00:12:57,068 --> 00:13:00,196
VAN ZELLER: Ms. T has no
formal medical training.
288
00:13:00,196 --> 00:13:03,408
What she's doing is
dangerous, sometimes lethal.
289
00:13:08,329 --> 00:13:11,249
VAN ZELLER: And can
create health effects
that linger for years.
290
00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,543
How many times have
you done this before?
291
00:13:16,379 --> 00:13:18,256
VAN ZELLER: Amber is
transgender and these
292
00:13:18,256 --> 00:13:21,384
injections will be a final
step in claiming a body she
293
00:13:21,384 --> 00:13:24,095
has been looking
for her entire life.
294
00:13:24,095 --> 00:13:25,513
But you are
aware of the risks?
295
00:13:56,961 --> 00:14:03,259
♪ ♪
296
00:14:03,634 --> 00:14:07,013
VAN ZELLER: Oh, my God.
Looks painful.
297
00:14:08,097 --> 00:14:11,184
Ms. T tells me that she only
uses medical‐grade silicone
298
00:14:11,184 --> 00:14:14,854
supplied to her
illegally by an actual doctor.
299
00:14:16,230 --> 00:14:19,358
But in this underworld, a
pumper's integrity is the only
300
00:14:19,358 --> 00:14:23,780
thing determining the quality
and content of the material
301
00:14:23,780 --> 00:14:25,823
being pushed into the body.
302
00:14:32,121 --> 00:14:33,581
So what's that?
303
00:14:46,719 --> 00:14:48,429
VAN ZELLER: So that's it?
MS T: Yeah.
304
00:14:48,429 --> 00:14:49,889
VAN ZELLER: Wait,
and now you just get
dressed and you leave?
305
00:14:49,889 --> 00:14:51,390
AMBER: Yeah.
VAN ZELLER: Hmm.
306
00:14:51,390 --> 00:14:53,893
So the whole thing
took about 15 minutes?
307
00:14:53,893 --> 00:14:55,770
MS T: Yeah.
308
00:14:56,479 --> 00:14:57,939
VAN ZELLER: What would you say
to people who would judge you
309
00:14:57,939 --> 00:15:00,775
and say, "She's doing this
crazy procedure and it's so
310
00:15:00,775 --> 00:15:04,195
dangerous and people are dying
and she must be really stupid
311
00:15:04,195 --> 00:15:05,404
to be doing this"?
312
00:15:05,404 --> 00:15:07,573
AMBER: Well, I know
I'm not stupid and so
313
00:15:07,573 --> 00:15:10,868
I'd just tell those
people to kiss my ass.
314
00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,498
I shoulda used this body
during the summertime.
315
00:15:15,498 --> 00:15:18,334
Now I will have to wait
to show it off again.
316
00:15:22,004 --> 00:15:24,966
VAN ZELLER: Did you ever
think that you'd be working
in the underground?
317
00:15:24,966 --> 00:15:27,051
MS T: Not in my
wildest dreams.
318
00:15:47,613 --> 00:15:48,990
VAN ZELLER: Do you think
that had an influence on you
319
00:15:48,990 --> 00:15:50,700
wanting to do cosmetic
procedures on other people?
320
00:15:50,700 --> 00:15:52,535
MS T: Yes.
VAN ZELLER: Uh‐hmm.
321
00:15:52,535 --> 00:15:54,203
How many people do you
think you've injected?
322
00:15:54,203 --> 00:15:56,664
MS T: Oh, wow, I can't even,
hundreds, hundreds.
323
00:15:56,664 --> 00:15:58,457
VAN ZELLER: What's the most
amount of people you ever did
324
00:15:58,457 --> 00:15:59,959
in one day or one night?
325
00:15:59,959 --> 00:16:01,210
MS T: About 40.
326
00:16:01,210 --> 00:16:03,462
VAN ZELLER: 40 people?
MS T: Uh‐hmm.
327
00:16:03,462 --> 00:16:05,965
VAN ZELLER: In, in one night?
MS T: Yes.
328
00:16:05,965 --> 00:16:07,550
VAN ZELLER: How
much do you charge?
329
00:16:07,550 --> 00:16:08,759
MS T: $1,000.
330
00:16:08,759 --> 00:16:10,094
VAN ZELLER: So you made
$40,000 that one day?
331
00:16:12,180 --> 00:16:13,222
VAN ZELLER: So it's
super easy money.
332
00:16:13,222 --> 00:16:14,265
MS T: Yeah.
333
00:16:14,265 --> 00:16:15,558
VAN ZELLER: But
really risky too.
334
00:16:15,558 --> 00:16:18,728
MS T: Very risky.
It's very, very risky. Yes.
335
00:16:23,691 --> 00:16:24,817
VAN ZELLER: So
what changed in you?
336
00:16:29,447 --> 00:16:30,489
VAN ZELLER: And this was
somebody that you were going
337
00:16:30,489 --> 00:16:32,491
to inject and then
they robbed you?
338
00:16:32,491 --> 00:16:34,952
MS T: Uh‐hmm. Tied me up,
beat me with a gun.
339
00:16:36,871 --> 00:16:38,456
VAN ZELLER: Because you
were carrying so much cash,
340
00:16:38,456 --> 00:16:40,833
did you ever
carry a gun with you?
341
00:16:43,419 --> 00:16:44,420
VAN ZELLER: Okay.
342
00:16:48,799 --> 00:16:50,426
VAN ZELLER: Knowing all the
risks involved and knowing how
343
00:16:50,426 --> 00:16:52,011
there are people
who have died,
344
00:16:52,011 --> 00:16:54,889
have you ever had any problems
with anyone you've injected?
345
00:17:01,187 --> 00:17:02,897
VAN ZELLER: I
don't doubt Ms. T,
346
00:17:02,897 --> 00:17:05,775
but it's not like there are
records kept of the negative
347
00:17:05,775 --> 00:17:09,403
effects, which can
show up years later.
348
00:17:09,737 --> 00:17:11,864
TIMOTHY: Very good.
349
00:17:12,323 --> 00:17:15,326
VAN ZELLER: You could call it
the flipside of silicone pumping
350
00:17:15,326 --> 00:17:19,247
or just another day at the
office for Dr. Timothy Katzen.
351
00:17:19,997 --> 00:17:23,125
TIMOTHY: This patient had a
series of three sessions of
352
00:17:23,125 --> 00:17:27,797
injections, consisting of
about 20 injections per side,
353
00:17:27,797 --> 00:17:30,800
starting about ten years ago.
354
00:17:31,259 --> 00:17:32,802
VAN ZELLER: Up to
seven times a week,
355
00:17:32,802 --> 00:17:36,847
he tackles a job so dangerous
that most plastic surgeons
356
00:17:36,847 --> 00:17:38,641
refuse to do it,
357
00:17:38,641 --> 00:17:41,852
removing the silicone from
black market injections.
358
00:17:43,396 --> 00:17:46,315
For patients who had been
seeking a cheap beauty fix,
359
00:17:46,315 --> 00:17:49,318
this is where the
dream comes to die.
360
00:17:50,236 --> 00:17:53,322
A warning, this is
about to get very graphic.
361
00:17:55,533 --> 00:17:58,953
TIMOTHY: See all the stuff?
That's all silicone.
362
00:17:58,953 --> 00:18:02,707
Sometimes the silicone
injectable will migrate.
363
00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,209
If it goes into your heart,
you can have a heart attack.
364
00:18:05,209 --> 00:18:07,670
If it goes into your brain,
you could have a stroke.
365
00:18:07,670 --> 00:18:11,382
All the silicone is
just right at the surface,
366
00:18:11,382 --> 00:18:13,718
trying to leak out.
367
00:18:20,141 --> 00:18:21,475
VAN ZELLER:
Despite the dangers,
368
00:18:21,475 --> 00:18:24,520
every night, pumpers
are out there pumping,
369
00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,524
selling curves that are
pushed to us on social media.
370
00:18:35,615 --> 00:18:39,452
I'm not immune to
these pressures either.
371
00:18:40,995 --> 00:18:43,998
Over the past couple of years,
I've paid a doctor to inject
372
00:18:43,998 --> 00:18:48,252
acids and toxins into my
face to make me look younger.
373
00:18:50,171 --> 00:18:53,758
Botox, a procedure that
happens to be perfectly legal.
374
00:18:54,925 --> 00:18:57,637
The methods and products
could not be more different.
375
00:18:57,637 --> 00:19:00,348
But the
motivations are the same.
376
00:19:01,515 --> 00:19:05,478
After all, who doesn't want
to look more attractive
377
00:19:05,478 --> 00:19:08,397
or feel more confident?
378
00:19:08,689 --> 00:19:12,985
The demand for plastic
surgery cuts across
all demographic lines.
379
00:19:12,985 --> 00:19:16,155
But all too often, the
outcomes and risks of those
380
00:19:16,155 --> 00:19:20,534
procedures depend on how much
the patient is able to pay.
381
00:19:21,911 --> 00:19:25,289
In one corner of America, the
pressure for a perfect body
382
00:19:25,289 --> 00:19:29,126
has become so great that
it's launched an entire
383
00:19:29,126 --> 00:19:32,171
medical tourism industry.
384
00:19:34,674 --> 00:19:37,968
Welcome to Miami.
385
00:19:39,845 --> 00:19:43,683
The new home of cheap plastic
surgery and to a string of
386
00:19:43,683 --> 00:19:46,310
suspicious deaths.
387
00:20:04,954 --> 00:20:09,750
♪ ♪
388
00:20:09,750 --> 00:20:13,045
VAN ZELLER: Until recently,
the high cost of plastic surgery
389
00:20:13,045 --> 00:20:15,297
meant that the
only option for some patients
390
00:20:15,297 --> 00:20:19,385
seeking exaggerated curves
were underground procedures,
391
00:20:19,385 --> 00:20:22,555
like the silicone shots
I witnessed in Atlanta.
392
00:20:26,642 --> 00:20:29,103
So this is where we've heard
there's a couple of these
393
00:20:29,103 --> 00:20:33,357
surgery centers, which is sort
of strange because you usually
394
00:20:33,357 --> 00:20:36,694
associate, you know,
plastic surgery to luxury.
395
00:20:38,028 --> 00:20:40,698
Today, in strip malls on
the west side of Miami,
396
00:20:40,698 --> 00:20:43,743
a new breed of legal
outpatient clinics has
397
00:20:43,743 --> 00:20:48,164
emerged, offering layaway
plans and rock‐bottom prices.
398
00:20:49,290 --> 00:20:50,833
There's a car arriving.
399
00:20:50,833 --> 00:20:53,294
Well, there's a couple of
people waiting outside.
400
00:20:54,962 --> 00:20:57,465
Many, if not most of the
clients you see coming in and
401
00:20:57,465 --> 00:21:00,176
out of these clinics, seem to
be coming straight from the
402
00:21:00,176 --> 00:21:02,845
airport, with
suitcases in tow.
403
00:21:03,679 --> 00:21:06,432
So it's been 10 minutes
since I've been sitting here,
404
00:21:06,432 --> 00:21:08,684
seeing a bunch of
women just go in and out.
405
00:21:08,684 --> 00:21:11,187
I mean, it had been described
to us like a factory and
406
00:21:11,187 --> 00:21:13,397
that's what it
feels like right now.
407
00:21:13,856 --> 00:21:16,192
Along with breast
enhancements and tummy tucks,
408
00:21:16,192 --> 00:21:18,986
these centers offer a
procedure that can provide
409
00:21:18,986 --> 00:21:22,323
even more dramatic
results than silicone pumping.
410
00:21:22,323 --> 00:21:25,576
It's the fastest‐growing
cosmetic surgery in America,
411
00:21:25,576 --> 00:21:27,995
the Brazilian butt lift.
412
00:21:35,211 --> 00:21:38,464
♪ ♪
413
00:21:38,464 --> 00:21:40,382
The BBL sounds simple.
414
00:21:40,382 --> 00:21:42,510
Suck out the fat from your
stomach and thighs where you
415
00:21:42,510 --> 00:21:45,638
don't want it, and inject
it into your hips and butt,
416
00:21:45,638 --> 00:21:47,556
where you do.
417
00:21:47,556 --> 00:21:49,683
DR OKORO: This is done side.
These are done.
418
00:21:49,683 --> 00:21:50,851
VAN ZELLER: Wow,
what a difference.
419
00:21:50,851 --> 00:21:51,977
DR OKORO: We don't
wanna make it too big.
420
00:21:51,977 --> 00:21:54,772
We wanna make it
like, look classy.
421
00:21:56,816 --> 00:21:59,026
VAN ZELLER: In reality, it's
the most dangerous operation
422
00:21:59,026 --> 00:22:01,529
in cosmetic surgery.
423
00:22:01,529 --> 00:22:04,490
Like silicone, if fat is
injected in the wrong place,
424
00:22:04,490 --> 00:22:07,117
it can kill the
patient almost instantly.
425
00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,996
Dr. Stanley Okoro, a
board‐certified plastic surgeon
426
00:22:10,996 --> 00:22:15,000
in Atlanta, trained 12 years
to avoid these pitfalls.
427
00:22:15,668 --> 00:22:20,506
But the doctors in Miami's
bargain clinics are often
far less qualified.
428
00:22:21,298 --> 00:22:23,008
DR OKORO: In the
United States of America,
429
00:22:23,008 --> 00:22:27,847
any medical doctor
can do plastic surgery.
430
00:22:27,847 --> 00:22:29,807
VAN ZELLER: So a pediatrician
could do plastic surgery.
431
00:22:29,807 --> 00:22:30,933
DR OKORO: That's correct.
432
00:22:30,933 --> 00:22:33,185
A pediatrician can
do cosmetic surgery.
433
00:22:33,185 --> 00:22:35,104
VAN ZELLER: And these doctors
that aren't plastic surgeons,
434
00:22:35,104 --> 00:22:37,565
how much training are they
getting before they operate?
435
00:22:37,565 --> 00:22:40,901
DR OKORO: There are all kinds
of weekend courses that these
436
00:22:40,901 --> 00:22:43,571
doctors can take
on, in a hotel.
437
00:22:43,571 --> 00:22:45,447
It's like a cookbook.
438
00:22:45,447 --> 00:22:49,285
The problem is, if you get
into a problem and it's
not in the cookbook.
439
00:22:49,285 --> 00:22:50,828
VAN ZELLER: What
do you do then? Yeah.
440
00:22:50,828 --> 00:22:52,121
DR OKORO: He call 911.
441
00:22:52,121 --> 00:22:53,497
VAN ZELLER: Right.
442
00:22:53,497 --> 00:22:54,832
REPORTER (over TV): An
investigation is just beginning
443
00:22:54,832 --> 00:22:56,834
after a woman died
following plastic surgery.
444
00:22:56,834 --> 00:22:58,752
REPORTER (over TV):
Heather Meadows died during a
Brazilian butt lift.
445
00:22:58,752 --> 00:23:00,254
REPORTER (over V):
Danea Plasencia died after
446
00:23:00,254 --> 00:23:01,922
undergoing a
Brazilian butt lift.
447
00:23:01,922 --> 00:23:03,382
REPORTER (over TV): She's one
of more than a dozen women who
448
00:23:03,382 --> 00:23:06,552
died after undergoing the same
procedure in South Florida.
449
00:23:15,644 --> 00:23:17,313
VAN ZELLER: Hi.
How are you?
450
00:23:17,313 --> 00:23:19,356
CAROLINA: How are you?
VAN ZELLER: Good.
451
00:23:19,356 --> 00:23:20,524
I'm Mariana.
So nice to meet you.
452
00:23:20,524 --> 00:23:21,775
CAROLINA: Carolina.
Nice to meet you.
453
00:23:21,775 --> 00:23:22,651
VAN ZELLER: Thank you
so much for having me.
454
00:23:22,651 --> 00:23:23,402
CAROLINA: My grandma, Mariana.
455
00:23:23,402 --> 00:23:24,737
(speaking Spanish).
456
00:23:24,737 --> 00:23:25,571
VAN ZELLER: Oh, yes,
you're called Mariana also.
457
00:23:29,783 --> 00:23:31,160
MARIANA: Mariana.
VAN ZELLER: Oh.
458
00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,788
In 2016, Carolina Flores'
sister, Maria Christian,
459
00:23:34,788 --> 00:23:37,583
saved up for a
tummy tuck to hide the
460
00:23:37,583 --> 00:23:40,586
stretch marks from giving
birth to her second child.
461
00:24:12,993 --> 00:24:15,579
VAN ZELLER: What clinic?
What center did she go to?
462
00:24:15,579 --> 00:24:18,499
CAROLINA: Vanity. Before, I
believe they were called Encore.
463
00:24:32,972 --> 00:24:34,556
VAN ZELLER:
Shortly after leaving,
464
00:24:34,556 --> 00:24:36,225
I received an
email from Carolina,
465
00:24:36,225 --> 00:24:39,895
which contained this police
report of her sister's death.
466
00:24:41,563 --> 00:24:43,816
It says that when EMS
arrived at the clinic,
467
00:24:43,816 --> 00:24:47,486
they were denied access
for at least five minutes.
468
00:24:47,861 --> 00:24:49,613
Why?
469
00:24:49,613 --> 00:24:51,365
What could possibly be
more important than letting
470
00:24:51,365 --> 00:24:53,909
paramedics into that building?
471
00:24:55,494 --> 00:24:58,080
Okay, so you see that one?
472
00:24:59,164 --> 00:25:01,792
I'm gonna try and go inside to
see if I can get a consultation.
473
00:25:14,221 --> 00:25:17,599
JEROME: Here we are in
Miami in a typical strip mall.
474
00:25:17,599 --> 00:25:19,309
VAN ZELLER: Right.
475
00:25:19,309 --> 00:25:21,395
And not where you'd
expect a medical facility
to be at, right?
476
00:25:21,395 --> 00:25:22,896
JEROME: Absolutely.
477
00:25:22,896 --> 00:25:24,982
VAN ZELLER: These strip mall
surgery centers in Miami are
478
00:25:24,982 --> 00:25:27,359
promising beauty on the cheap.
479
00:25:30,946 --> 00:25:34,324
But I want to know why
their patients are dying
in alarming numbers.
480
00:25:39,705 --> 00:25:41,457
When did this all
start, these clinics?
481
00:25:41,457 --> 00:25:45,210
JEROME: They started exploding
in numbers ten years ago and
482
00:25:45,210 --> 00:25:48,005
it's just gotten bigger
and bigger and bigger.
483
00:25:48,505 --> 00:25:50,174
VAN ZELLER: To hit
the ground running,
484
00:25:50,174 --> 00:25:53,844
I'm piggybacking on the
investigations of three people,
485
00:25:53,844 --> 00:25:57,097
medical malpractice
lawyer Andres Beregovich,
486
00:25:57,097 --> 00:26:00,601
who has launched a number of
lawsuits against these clinics.
487
00:26:01,310 --> 00:26:04,855
Jerome Hill, a former cop and
former investigator for the
488
00:26:04,855 --> 00:26:07,316
Florida Department of Health.
489
00:26:07,816 --> 00:26:10,944
And Florida State Senator
Anitere Flores who has passed
490
00:26:10,944 --> 00:26:14,281
a bill requiring
stricter regulations.
491
00:26:14,740 --> 00:26:18,077
ANITERE: This is something that
has become a national problem.
492
00:26:18,660 --> 00:26:20,954
VAN ZELLER: They're
giving me a crash course
in a cottage industry
493
00:26:20,954 --> 00:26:24,625
that appears to be operating
at the margins of the law.
494
00:26:26,251 --> 00:26:27,377
What's the clientele?
495
00:26:27,377 --> 00:26:28,754
Who are the people
coming to these centers?
496
00:26:28,754 --> 00:26:30,339
ANITERE: These are people
from across the country.
497
00:26:30,339 --> 00:26:31,715
VAN ZELLER: Uh‐hmm.
498
00:26:31,715 --> 00:26:34,968
ANITERE: That are being,
I would say, preyed upon.
499
00:26:36,095 --> 00:26:37,971
We'll have hospital
executives that'll tell us,
500
00:26:37,971 --> 00:26:39,431
"Oh, yeah.
501
00:26:39,431 --> 00:26:40,933
You know we have a couple
patients a week that come in
502
00:26:40,933 --> 00:26:42,518
from that
plastic surgery place,
503
00:26:42,518 --> 00:26:44,853
but we can't do
anything about it."
504
00:26:46,063 --> 00:26:48,816
JEROME: We're gonna go in
here and see a particular
505
00:26:48,816 --> 00:26:52,236
problematic surgery center
that has given the state,
506
00:26:52,236 --> 00:26:55,405
and more importantly, the
citizens of Florida some
507
00:26:55,405 --> 00:26:56,990
consternation and.
508
00:26:56,990 --> 00:26:57,866
VAN ZELLER: That
one over there?
509
00:26:57,866 --> 00:26:58,826
JEROME: Yeah.
510
00:26:58,826 --> 00:27:00,327
VAN ZELLER: Jolie?
JEROME: Yes.
511
00:27:00,327 --> 00:27:03,455
VAN ZELLER: Jolie, the clinic
formerly known as Vanity,
512
00:27:03,455 --> 00:27:06,208
where Maria Christian died.
513
00:27:06,583 --> 00:27:09,294
After the incident, the clinic
issued a statement claiming
514
00:27:09,294 --> 00:27:12,089
they followed
standard procedures.
515
00:27:12,089 --> 00:27:14,758
But a pending malpractice
lawsuit against Vanity and
516
00:27:14,758 --> 00:27:18,262
Maria's doctor
alleges otherwise.
517
00:27:18,262 --> 00:27:21,849
And Maria's death is not
a stand‐alone incident.
518
00:27:22,391 --> 00:27:25,143
So how many deaths
have happened here?
519
00:27:25,143 --> 00:27:29,273
JEROME: Jolie Center and
their affiliate has had
eight deaths right now.
520
00:27:29,273 --> 00:27:30,482
VAN ZELLER: Just in six years?
521
00:27:30,482 --> 00:27:32,025
JEROME: That's
just astronomical.
522
00:27:32,025 --> 00:27:33,610
VAN ZELLER: That's right.
523
00:27:33,610 --> 00:27:37,865
Eight deaths between 2013 and
2018 have been linked to this
524
00:27:37,865 --> 00:27:41,410
clinic, which
operated first as Encore ,
525
00:27:41,410 --> 00:27:44,329
then as Vanity ,
and now as Jolie .
526
00:27:45,414 --> 00:27:48,166
Local media reports that
nearly a dozen other women
527
00:27:48,166 --> 00:27:50,919
have also suffered
serious injuries.
528
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:54,381
ANDRES: When
there's too much heat,
529
00:27:54,381 --> 00:27:59,344
they just close, then reopen,
same location. It's crazy.
530
00:28:00,137 --> 00:28:03,515
VAN ZELLER: A 2019 exposé by
The Naples Daily News and
531
00:28:03,515 --> 00:28:06,894
USA Today had this to
say about the deaths,
532
00:28:06,894 --> 00:28:10,063
name changes, and the
clinic's de facto owner,
533
00:28:10,063 --> 00:28:12,399
Ismael Labrador.
534
00:28:13,025 --> 00:28:16,278
"Seven of the women who died
were working‐class Hispanics
535
00:28:16,278 --> 00:28:19,364
and African‐Americans, groups
targeted by the clinics'
536
00:28:19,364 --> 00:28:21,408
advertising campaigns.
537
00:28:21,408 --> 00:28:23,869
While deaths and
injuries mounted,
538
00:28:23,869 --> 00:28:28,040
the names of the clinics
were changed three
times since 2016.
539
00:28:28,498 --> 00:28:31,501
But one person has
remained at the center,
540
00:28:31,501 --> 00:28:34,004
Dr. Ismael Labrador.
541
00:28:34,546 --> 00:28:36,840
To get a sense of
how Labrador operates,
542
00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,135
we conducted a records
request from the state's
Department of Health.
543
00:28:40,135 --> 00:28:42,346
What we learned is that
although the clinic changed
544
00:28:42,346 --> 00:28:45,599
names over the years,
from Vanidades , to Encore ,
545
00:28:45,599 --> 00:28:49,853
to Vanity , to Eres ,
to Jolie Plastic Surgery ,
546
00:28:49,853 --> 00:28:53,941
many of the surgeons and some
of the staff stayed the same.
547
00:28:54,399 --> 00:28:57,319
Even the human resources rep
who registered the staff and
548
00:28:57,319 --> 00:28:59,905
the surgeons with the
Department of Health remained
549
00:28:59,905 --> 00:29:03,659
the same, though her email
address changed frequently
550
00:29:03,659 --> 00:29:05,994
over the years.
551
00:29:05,994 --> 00:29:08,747
And Labrador is not the only
clinic operator who has
552
00:29:08,747 --> 00:29:10,540
come under scrutiny.
553
00:29:10,540 --> 00:29:13,752
USA Today reported that at
least 13 women have died at
554
00:29:13,752 --> 00:29:17,089
four other Florida
plastic surgery centers.
555
00:29:19,633 --> 00:29:22,844
How difficult do you think it
is to find somebody sort of
556
00:29:22,844 --> 00:29:24,972
working inside these
clinics to talk to us,
557
00:29:24,972 --> 00:29:27,474
about how, what the
reality is inside?
558
00:29:27,474 --> 00:29:30,268
JEROME: I think you're
gonna find it very difficult.
559
00:29:31,687 --> 00:29:33,730
VAN ZELLER: A toxic
stew was brewing here,
560
00:29:33,730 --> 00:29:36,775
with lax regulations,
dangerous practices,
561
00:29:36,775 --> 00:29:39,736
and untold
millions to be made.
562
00:29:39,987 --> 00:29:44,491
The more I learn, the
less I'm surprised by the
growing list of fatalities.
563
00:29:53,792 --> 00:29:56,461
Okay, so you see that one?
564
00:29:58,296 --> 00:30:01,049
I wanna try and go inside and
see if I can get a consultation.
565
00:30:03,218 --> 00:30:05,679
Unfortunately, we're not
allowed to go in with cameras.
566
00:30:05,679 --> 00:30:08,098
It's against the
law in Florida.
567
00:30:09,516 --> 00:30:13,562
According to USA Today
and
Naples Daily News investigation
568
00:30:13,562 --> 00:30:16,481
the Florida Health Department
has investigated at least
569
00:30:16,481 --> 00:30:20,652
six deaths and serious injuries
at Labrador's clinics,
570
00:30:21,403 --> 00:30:24,823
many of which were avoidable
and the result of mistakes.
571
00:30:26,074 --> 00:30:29,494
In four of the BBL fatalities
at Labrador clinics.
572
00:30:29,494 --> 00:30:34,416
USA Today reported that doctors
injected fat in the wrong place,
573
00:30:34,416 --> 00:30:37,377
killing their
patients within minutes.
574
00:30:38,045 --> 00:30:40,005
We tried to reach the Florida
Department of Health for
575
00:30:40,005 --> 00:30:43,675
a comment and yet,
after months of emails,
576
00:30:43,675 --> 00:30:46,303
calls, and many
unanswered voicemails,
577
00:30:46,303 --> 00:30:50,557
they said they were
unable to comment because
of confidentiality.
578
00:30:51,141 --> 00:30:54,144
So perhaps it's not surprising
that little has been done
579
00:30:54,144 --> 00:30:57,064
despite the fatalities.
580
00:31:02,319 --> 00:31:06,114
So they actually said
that everything is
done over the phone.
581
00:31:07,491 --> 00:31:08,867
RECEPTIONIST (over phone):
Hi, hello?
582
00:31:08,867 --> 00:31:10,285
VAN ZELLER: Good.
How are you doing?
583
00:31:10,285 --> 00:31:11,870
RECEPTIONIST (over phone):
Very well, yourself?
584
00:31:11,870 --> 00:31:14,414
VAN ZELLER: Good. I have a few
questions for you about BBLs.
585
00:31:14,414 --> 00:31:15,832
Do you mind if I record this?
586
00:31:15,832 --> 00:31:17,667
RECEPTIONIST (over phone):
Yeah, go ahead.
587
00:31:17,667 --> 00:31:19,586
So which doctor are
you looking into?
588
00:31:19,586 --> 00:31:22,964
VAN ZELLER: Who does the
cheapest procedure there,
the cheapest BBL?
589
00:31:22,964 --> 00:31:24,716
RECEPTIONIST (over phone):
The cheapest right now it's
590
00:31:24,716 --> 00:31:28,470
Dr. (bleep) and
(bleep) both at 3,500.
591
00:31:28,470 --> 00:31:30,597
VAN ZELLER: I'm
not really sure.
592
00:31:30,597 --> 00:31:32,808
I've heard good things
about Dr. (bleep)
593
00:31:32,808 --> 00:31:36,186
RECEPTIONIST (over phone): Yeah
He's one of the leading doctors
here as far as demand goes.
594
00:31:36,186 --> 00:31:39,731
Dr. (bleep) has his
BBLs right now at 5,700.
595
00:31:39,731 --> 00:31:41,441
VAN ZELLER: 5,700.
596
00:31:41,441 --> 00:31:44,444
And how many procedures does
Dr. (bleep) do on average a day?
597
00:31:44,444 --> 00:31:46,363
Just so I get an, a
sense of his experience.
598
00:31:46,363 --> 00:31:47,531
RECEPTIONIST (over phone):
On average a day?
599
00:31:47,531 --> 00:31:49,199
Roughly, I think
about six to eight.
600
00:31:49,199 --> 00:31:52,369
VAN ZELLER: Wow, that's a lot.
601
00:31:53,078 --> 00:31:54,746
RECEPTIONIST (over phone): Yup.
602
00:31:54,746 --> 00:31:56,873
That's, that's the
limit for procedures
in a day for a doctor.
603
00:31:56,873 --> 00:31:58,792
VAN ZELLER: Wow.
Okay. Sounds good.
604
00:31:58,792 --> 00:32:02,879
Actually, if they're talking
about six to eight BBLS a day,
605
00:32:02,879 --> 00:32:05,632
it sounds anything but good.
606
00:32:06,049 --> 00:32:09,261
I checked with a handful of
experts including Dr. Okoro,
607
00:32:09,261 --> 00:32:12,222
the board‐certified
plastic surgeon in Atlanta,
608
00:32:12,222 --> 00:32:16,726
who all say that three to four
BBLS is the maximum number a
609
00:32:16,726 --> 00:32:19,855
plastic surgeon could
safely do in one day.
610
00:32:19,855 --> 00:32:24,192
So how could anyone handle
a caseload double the size?
611
00:32:25,402 --> 00:32:28,405
Other sources we spoke with
said it wasn't unusual for
612
00:32:28,405 --> 00:32:32,784
surgeons at Jolie or previously
at Encore and Vanity ,
613
00:32:32,784 --> 00:32:36,496
to schedule as
many as 10 BBLS a day.
614
00:32:37,956 --> 00:32:41,793
Finally, we actually got
somebody willing to talk to us.
615
00:32:42,210 --> 00:32:45,297
A search for former employees
leads me to Gena Hitchens who
616
00:32:45,297 --> 00:32:48,341
worked at Jolie as
a surgical coordinator.
617
00:32:49,968 --> 00:32:53,054
She's promised to meet me,
though she's warned us,
618
00:32:53,054 --> 00:32:55,724
that she still
works in the industry,
619
00:32:55,724 --> 00:32:59,394
and needs to choose
her words carefully.
620
00:33:00,353 --> 00:33:02,522
Have you ever been there
in one of these cases where
621
00:33:02,522 --> 00:33:04,608
things went terribly wrong?
622
00:33:18,914 --> 00:33:21,541
♪ ♪
623
00:33:21,541 --> 00:33:23,335
♪ Bottles and models ♪
624
00:33:23,335 --> 00:33:25,253
♪ Lil' mama look fit ♪
625
00:33:25,253 --> 00:33:26,880
♪ I'mma hit like a throttle ♪
626
00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:28,840
♪ She make it drop
like a switch ♪
627
00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:30,675
♪ I won't see her tomorrow ♪♪
628
00:33:30,675 --> 00:33:33,345
VAN ZELLER: So Gena,
tell me how you first
heard about these clinics.
629
00:33:33,345 --> 00:33:36,473
GENA: I started working
at Jolie Plastic Surgery .
630
00:33:36,473 --> 00:33:38,225
VAN ZELLER: Uh‐hmm.
631
00:33:38,225 --> 00:33:41,061
GENA: And that was my
first step into the
plastic surgery world.
632
00:33:41,061 --> 00:33:42,395
VAN ZELLER: How many
clinics have you worked at?
633
00:33:42,395 --> 00:33:43,980
GENA: Four.
634
00:33:43,980 --> 00:33:45,982
VAN ZELLER: Have you ever been
there in one of these cases
635
00:33:45,982 --> 00:33:48,693
where things went
terribly wrong?
636
00:33:49,569 --> 00:33:50,987
GENA: Umm...
637
00:33:50,987 --> 00:33:52,864
Yes, but I can't talk about it.
638
00:33:52,864 --> 00:33:56,451
VAN ZELLER: More than once?
GENA: No.
639
00:33:56,743 --> 00:33:58,370
VAN ZELLER: Was it a death?
640
00:33:58,370 --> 00:34:00,622
GENA: I'm not able
to speak about it.
641
00:34:00,622 --> 00:34:02,457
VAN ZELLER: Is a doctor
actually capable of performing
642
00:34:02,457 --> 00:34:04,793
eight procedures in a day?
643
00:34:04,793 --> 00:34:07,128
GENA: I think once you start
getting into the high numbers
644
00:34:07,128 --> 00:34:09,965
is when you start
looking for problems.
645
00:34:09,965 --> 00:34:12,050
Or problems start
looking for you.
646
00:34:12,050 --> 00:34:14,761
VAN ZELLER: So why are they
doing so many procedures a day?
647
00:34:17,681 --> 00:34:19,057
GENA: Yeah.
648
00:34:19,057 --> 00:34:21,309
I don't know that that's a
question I wanna answer.
649
00:34:21,309 --> 00:34:23,228
VAN ZELLER: But do you think a
doctor is capable of operating
650
00:34:23,228 --> 00:34:26,564
and doing eight BBLs a day?
651
00:34:26,564 --> 00:34:28,441
GENA: They do it.
652
00:34:28,441 --> 00:34:30,902
VAN ZELLER: How
long does a BBL take?
653
00:34:30,902 --> 00:34:35,198
GENA: The average BBL would
probably be three and a half
654
00:34:35,198 --> 00:34:37,701
to four hours.
655
00:34:38,034 --> 00:34:41,121
VAN ZELLER: Of course, a
surgeon wouldn't need to be in
656
00:34:41,121 --> 00:34:43,123
the room the entire time.
657
00:34:43,123 --> 00:34:46,751
But from our research, the
two main procedures in a BBL,
658
00:34:46,751 --> 00:34:51,339
liposuction and fat transfer
take between two and
three hours.
659
00:34:52,215 --> 00:34:56,177
So a surgeon doing eight BBLS
in a day would be facing
660
00:34:56,177 --> 00:34:59,723
16 to 24 hours of surgery.
661
00:35:00,473 --> 00:35:02,892
I guess the math then
just doesn't add up.
662
00:35:02,892 --> 00:35:05,186
So it's impossible for a doctor
to be performing eight of
663
00:35:05,186 --> 00:35:06,479
these a day.
664
00:35:06,479 --> 00:35:09,524
GENA: Nothing is impossible.
665
00:35:19,284 --> 00:35:20,327
VAN ZELLER: So pretty.
It's like...
666
00:35:20,327 --> 00:35:22,245
ANDRES: It's like
a little oasis.
667
00:35:22,245 --> 00:35:24,706
VAN ZELLER: With business
booming at these clinics,
668
00:35:24,706 --> 00:35:27,584
lawyer Andres Beregovich who's
launched a number of cases
669
00:35:27,584 --> 00:35:30,962
against these clinics, wants to
give me a sense of just how much
670
00:35:30,962 --> 00:35:34,132
money these clinic
owners are making.
671
00:35:34,132 --> 00:35:37,719
Look at that.
Guy on a horse.
672
00:35:38,637 --> 00:35:40,972
I'm most interested in
one man in particular,
673
00:35:40,972 --> 00:35:44,893
Dr. Ismael Labrador, the
reported owner and operator of
674
00:35:44,893 --> 00:35:48,063
Jolie and other
cosmetic surgery centers.
675
00:35:48,647 --> 00:35:50,106
What is this?
676
00:35:50,106 --> 00:35:53,443
ANDRES: These are stables,
part of an equestrian center
677
00:35:53,443 --> 00:35:57,822
owned by Ismael Labrador
and his wife.
678
00:35:58,907 --> 00:36:02,786
It just goes to show you
the significance of the money
679
00:36:02,786 --> 00:36:05,538
that's generated by
these surgery centers.
680
00:36:05,538 --> 00:36:08,416
They're cash cows.
681
00:36:08,792 --> 00:36:11,503
VAN ZELLER: In 2007, Dr.
Labrador was arrested on
682
00:36:11,503 --> 00:36:15,298
felony charges for allowing
unlicensed workers to perform
683
00:36:15,298 --> 00:36:17,592
medical procedures.
684
00:36:17,592 --> 00:36:19,719
The felony charges were
dropped after he entered a
685
00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:23,515
court diversion program and he
went on to start a string of
686
00:36:23,515 --> 00:36:26,851
discount plastic
surgery centers.
687
00:36:27,727 --> 00:36:31,564
Here he is, in a 2018
deposition for a case where
688
00:36:31,564 --> 00:36:35,568
a woman was injured during a
procedure at one of his clinics,
689
00:36:35,568 --> 00:36:38,113
a lawsuit that
has since been settled.
690
00:36:38,363 --> 00:36:40,490
INTERVIEWER: Specifically,
what administrative tasks did
691
00:36:40,490 --> 00:36:42,158
you have control over?
692
00:36:42,158 --> 00:36:44,411
(speaking Spanish).
693
00:36:44,411 --> 00:36:46,329
TRANSLATOR: The
hours, the salary.
694
00:36:46,329 --> 00:36:49,999
(speaking Spanish).
695
00:36:49,999 --> 00:36:52,377
TRANSLATOR: The
employees' qualifications.
696
00:36:52,377 --> 00:36:53,837
VAN ZELLER: In past
written statements,
697
00:36:53,837 --> 00:36:56,256
Labrador has said
doctors, not clinic owners,
698
00:36:56,256 --> 00:36:59,801
are responsible for patient
care and that all the doctors
699
00:36:59,801 --> 00:37:04,013
he's hired have met
the requirements of the
state licensing board.
700
00:37:04,597 --> 00:37:07,434
He's also claimed that the
frequent name changes at his
701
00:37:07,434 --> 00:37:10,395
clinics were made for
marketing purposes,
702
00:37:10,395 --> 00:37:13,314
not to avoid
legal responsibility.
703
00:37:13,565 --> 00:37:15,567
We reached out to
him for comment.
704
00:37:15,567 --> 00:37:18,695
He denied being the owner of
Jolie and responded with a
705
00:37:18,695 --> 00:37:23,366
request for $25,000 to
sit for an interview,
706
00:37:23,783 --> 00:37:27,203
and that's when we
found a new source.
707
00:37:28,246 --> 00:37:29,998
So I don't know a
lot about this person,
708
00:37:29,998 --> 00:37:32,333
I just know that
he's willing to talk.
709
00:37:32,333 --> 00:37:35,378
He's very, very nervous and
anxious and super worried
710
00:37:35,378 --> 00:37:37,714
about not
revealing his identity.
711
00:37:37,714 --> 00:37:41,217
I'm hoping he'll be able to
help me unravel the inner
712
00:37:41,217 --> 00:37:44,012
workings of these
discount surgery clinics.
713
00:37:44,012 --> 00:37:48,016
VOICE (over computer): Welcome.
Please take your ticket.
Please drive inside.
714
00:37:58,276 --> 00:38:01,279
VAN ZELLER: I think he's here.
I think that's him.
715
00:38:01,279 --> 00:38:03,865
Yeah, it's definitely him.
716
00:38:14,667 --> 00:38:17,545
So, thanks for meeting us.
717
00:38:17,545 --> 00:38:19,798
To protect the
identity of Juan Carlos,
718
00:38:19,798 --> 00:38:21,925
there's little I
can say about him,
719
00:38:21,925 --> 00:38:25,094
other than he has spent time
working at Jolie and a number
720
00:38:25,094 --> 00:38:28,139
of other clinics,
which we have verified.
721
00:38:28,848 --> 00:38:30,725
We've been trying for months
and months and months to try
722
00:38:30,725 --> 00:38:32,185
to get somebody to talk to us.
723
00:38:32,185 --> 00:38:33,478
So I really appreciate this.
724
00:38:35,814 --> 00:38:37,482
VAN ZELLER:
Reluctantly, but you accepted.
725
00:38:37,482 --> 00:38:39,067
Why did you accept?
726
00:38:55,959 --> 00:39:01,756
♪ ♪
727
00:39:04,342 --> 00:39:06,511
VAN ZELLER: What exactly
happens in these places?
728
00:39:19,607 --> 00:39:23,027
VAN ZELLER: Ten to 12
patients per day, per
doctor, per surgeon?
729
00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:26,990
VAN ZELLER: As a
surgical coordinator,
730
00:39:26,990 --> 00:39:29,409
Juan Carlos was in charge of
scheduling these surgeries for
731
00:39:29,409 --> 00:39:31,661
a handful of doctors.
732
00:39:32,036 --> 00:39:34,581
Although he worked in the
admin offices upstairs,
733
00:39:34,581 --> 00:39:38,042
he said he made daily trips to
the operating rooms downstairs.
734
00:39:38,501 --> 00:39:41,421
And routinely saw surgeons
running multiple operating
735
00:39:41,421 --> 00:39:44,299
rooms at the same time.
736
00:39:44,299 --> 00:39:47,010
That meant that they weren't
on hand for the entirety of
737
00:39:47,010 --> 00:39:49,262
the procedures.
738
00:39:49,262 --> 00:39:52,724
If that's true, then logically
it must mean that the
739
00:39:52,724 --> 00:39:56,311
operating room assistants,
called surgical techs,
740
00:39:56,311 --> 00:39:59,480
are doing at least
part of these procedures.
741
00:40:00,690 --> 00:40:03,484
Juan Carlos brought videos he
claims to have captured on his
742
00:40:03,484 --> 00:40:06,362
phone that seem
to show just that.
743
00:40:06,988 --> 00:40:10,033
Due to patient privacy, Juan
Carlos would not allow us to
744
00:40:10,033 --> 00:40:11,910
share the footage.
745
00:40:11,910 --> 00:40:15,371
Though we can't
independently confirm the
authenticity of the videos,
746
00:40:15,371 --> 00:40:20,043
in one of them, the staff
uniforms clearly say Jolie .
747
00:40:20,668 --> 00:40:22,420
Oh, what's happening here?
748
00:40:24,797 --> 00:40:26,007
VAN ZELLER: And then
what happens if something,
749
00:40:26,007 --> 00:40:27,842
you know, if one of
the surgeries gets,
750
00:40:27,842 --> 00:40:30,094
you know, complicated?
751
00:40:32,347 --> 00:40:33,681
VAN ZELLER: And considering
the amount of deaths,
752
00:40:33,681 --> 00:40:37,185
why hasn't anyone come
out and spoken, like you?
753
00:40:44,776 --> 00:40:47,362
VAN ZELLER: But you've
felt some sort of guilt, right?
754
00:40:47,362 --> 00:40:49,781
Or else you
wouldn't be here now.
755
00:40:50,198 --> 00:40:51,908
Or remorse or.
756
00:41:02,001 --> 00:41:05,380
VAN ZELLER: Nobody gives a
(bleep) about you, patients.
757
00:41:05,922 --> 00:41:07,548
The deeper I dug
into this world,
758
00:41:07,548 --> 00:41:10,218
nothing felt more
honest than that statement.
759
00:41:11,636 --> 00:41:14,180
I presented
Jolie's de facto owner,
760
00:41:14,180 --> 00:41:17,684
Ismael Labrador, with
Juan Carlos' claims.
761
00:41:17,684 --> 00:41:20,728
Through his lawyer, he
denied that surgical techs are
762
00:41:20,728 --> 00:41:24,816
performing the surgeries and
has threatened legal action.
763
00:41:25,775 --> 00:41:29,696
It took me six months to track
down a former employee willing
764
00:41:29,696 --> 00:41:32,115
to speak on camera.
765
00:41:32,115 --> 00:41:34,993
KAYLA (over computer): I mean,
there's a lot of people that
know about it
766
00:41:34,993 --> 00:41:37,787
and are afraid to speak
and I'm not one of them.
767
00:41:37,787 --> 00:41:40,790
They can come find
me for all I care.
768
00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:43,001
VAN ZELLER: Kayla worked
as a medical assistant at
769
00:41:43,001 --> 00:41:46,504
Labrador's clinic when it
was called Vanity and Encore ,
770
00:41:46,504 --> 00:41:49,382
but before it was named Jolie .
771
00:41:49,382 --> 00:41:50,425
How long were you there for?
772
00:41:50,425 --> 00:41:51,843
KAYLA (over computer):
Two years.
773
00:41:51,843 --> 00:41:53,845
VAN ZELLER: What kind of
patients did you guys see there?
774
00:41:53,845 --> 00:41:56,639
KAYLA (over computer): We would
have patients from everywhere
that would come in.
775
00:41:56,639 --> 00:41:58,683
Obviously because of
this affordable pricing,
776
00:41:58,683 --> 00:42:00,727
they were coming
out of the state,
777
00:42:00,727 --> 00:42:02,729
coming from another country.
778
00:42:02,729 --> 00:42:03,688
Yeah.
779
00:42:03,688 --> 00:42:06,482
It was a variety of patients.
780
00:42:06,482 --> 00:42:09,027
VAN ZELLER: And once those
patients went in for surgery,
781
00:42:09,027 --> 00:42:12,155
what Kayla describes fits a
similar pattern of behavior
782
00:42:12,155 --> 00:42:15,700
that we heard from Juan Carlos
as well as multiple others who
783
00:42:15,700 --> 00:42:19,787
worked at Labrador's clinics
and spoke to us off the record.
784
00:42:20,621 --> 00:42:23,332
Doctors running
multiple operating rooms,
785
00:42:23,332 --> 00:42:27,503
and not being present for
portions of risky operations.
786
00:42:28,421 --> 00:42:31,215
KAYLA: There's more than
one operating room for sure.
787
00:42:31,215 --> 00:42:34,635
There were multiple
surgeries happening at once.
788
00:42:34,886 --> 00:42:37,972
We had at least five
to six operating rooms.
789
00:42:39,057 --> 00:42:41,225
VAN ZELLER: Florida law
requires that anyone assisting
790
00:42:41,225 --> 00:42:46,481
or participating in any surgical
procedure must have, quote,
791
00:42:46,481 --> 00:42:50,151
"Direct and immediate
supervision of a
licensed physician."
792
00:42:50,151 --> 00:42:53,071
So would a surgeon overseeing
multiple operating rooms
793
00:42:53,071 --> 00:42:56,532
qualify as direct and
immediate supervision?
794
00:42:57,158 --> 00:42:59,619
I called former Department
of Health inspector,
795
00:42:59,619 --> 00:43:03,122
Jerome Hill to ask
him this very question.
796
00:43:03,122 --> 00:43:05,833
He believes the current
law gives these clinics
797
00:43:05,833 --> 00:43:07,919
too much wiggle room.
798
00:43:07,919 --> 00:43:10,963
JEROME (over phone): Given the
fact that you can have some typ
799
00:43:10,963 --> 00:43:16,385
of medical procedure in one
room and the supervision is
800
00:43:16,385 --> 00:43:22,016
in another room two doors
down, it is a stretch,
801
00:43:22,016 --> 00:43:24,227
it is the
latitude that they give,
802
00:43:24,227 --> 00:43:29,107
the medical doctors here in
Florida that it is so gross it
803
00:43:29,107 --> 00:43:34,278
leaves an opening for
malpractice by these doctors.
804
00:43:34,278 --> 00:43:38,199
And it puts, more
importantly, the citizens
of Florida in jeopardy.
805
00:43:40,076 --> 00:43:42,537
VAN ZELLER: Three
board‐certified doctors we
806
00:43:42,537 --> 00:43:45,581
spoke with all agree that
from a medical perspective,
807
00:43:45,581 --> 00:43:49,418
a surgeon must be in the room
the entire procedure in order
808
00:43:49,418 --> 00:43:51,629
to ensure a patient's safety.
809
00:43:51,629 --> 00:43:54,966
Anything less than that,
especially with a procedure
810
00:43:54,966 --> 00:43:59,345
like a BBL is unusual
and undoubtedly dangerous.
811
00:44:00,805 --> 00:44:03,307
The picture of this industry
painted by the many people we
812
00:44:03,307 --> 00:44:05,476
spoke with is grim.
813
00:44:05,476 --> 00:44:09,355
Which means that unless
regulators step in or society
814
00:44:09,355 --> 00:44:13,025
stops pressuring women to
chase those perfect curves,
815
00:44:13,025 --> 00:44:16,612
these tragedies are
likely to continue.
816
00:44:21,576 --> 00:44:23,327
VAN ZELLER: I mean, it's not
even about the patient's life
817
00:44:23,327 --> 00:44:24,453
anymore, right?
818
00:44:32,128 --> 00:44:38,926
♪ ♪
819
00:44:52,356 --> 00:44:57,695
♪ ♪
820
00:44:58,237 --> 00:44:59,572
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.