A Washington mother says she was given breast implants and a Brazilian butt lift that she never wanted after a plastic surgery clinic in Mexico misinterpreted her goals.
Last month, Kimberly McCormick of King County, Washington, traveled to a cosmetic clinic in Tijuana, Mexico.
It was the same clinic she had been to roughly six years ago for weight loss surgery.
On this trip, in October 2023, she wanted a breast lift, and the removal of loose skin on her arms, thighs, and stomach.
But she walked out with breast implants and a Brazilian butt lift that she says she never asked for, and bills $2,500 beyond the fee she originally agreed to pay.
The cosmetic surgery clinic—unidentified in an original report by Fox 13 Seattle, possibly due to an ongoing investigation—made McCormick sign papers to the effect that she had, in fact, agreed to the surgical procedures prior to letting her go.
McCormick and her daughter, Misty Ann, say they were strong-armed into paying an additional $2,500 for the unwanted cosmetic surgery procedures.
“They actually took my card from me, the big goon guy, and gave it to somebody else and said run it, $2,500, and then they threw it back on my bed. They looked at the coordinator and said, ‘Get her out of here’. It was that quick.”
Kimberly McCormick, who went in October to Tijuana, Mexico for a breast lift and skin removal surgery.
Her daughter says she was physically pushed out by armed security, and the two were told if they failed to pay, they would go to prison.
Then, they were followed back to their hotel, made to pack quickly, and placed in a van to be sent back across the border.
Now back home, McCormick considers herself lucky to be alive.
Her daughter, Misty Ann, has to help her dress wounds twice a day, and has spent more than $1,000 in out-of-pocket medical supplies.
Still sore, emotionally distraught, and with incisions that aren’t healing as well as they could be, McCormick says she will now have to undergo additional unplanned surgeries.
The breast implants she was given are much too large for her liking, and her incisions are infected.
McCormick is warning others that no matter the price or discount offered, traveling to Mexico for cosmetic surgery may not be worth it.
McCormick has also contacted the FBI, Fox 13 Seattle reported on Friday.
Of the experience, McCormick told Fox 13, “The care was horrible, and I’ve been disfigured, and now I’m going to have to go under more surgery.”
Updated on November 22, 2023: This story garnered international attention and was covered by four mainstream media outlets between Nov 14 and Nov 21, none of which reported having reached out to the clinic in question for comment or clarification.
The clinic’s response appears here: “Machine Guns Not Involved, Patient’s Express Consent Given in Mexico Plastic Surgery Mishap,” published Nov 22, 2023