Barbara A. Nieto, owner of Perfect Image esthetic spa and nutrition center in Corona, New York, has been arrested and charged for unlawful practice of medicine and endangering the life of a client by performing liposuction and buttocks enhancement.

Nieto is licensed by the New York State to perform appearance enhancement which consisted of cosmetology, esthetics, nail specialty, natural hair styling and waxing, but not medical procedures such as plastic surgery.

Nieto allegedly informed her client, Augusta Velez, that Nieto can perform a simple liposuction on her stomach area and re-insert the fat removed into her buttocks for $500. After the procedure, Velez admitted herself into the hospital and was diagnosed with bilateral buttock abscesses and immediately underwent surgery.

Velez’s condition was deadly since she was at risk to developing septic infection.

Velez faces a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison if convicted of 2^nd degree assault, 1^st degree reckless endangerment and unauthorized practice of medicine.