A woman from Central Asia has been charged after allegedly posing as a doctor on social media and performing a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) that left a patient with a life-threatening infection.
Nargiza Shukurova, 39, of Uzbekistan, allegedly carried out the procedure on a 46-year-old woman in May 2023 at a beauty salon in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, authorities said. The victim suffered severe complications and required twelve surgeries over two months to treat an infection that nearly claimed her life.
According to court records, Shukurova advertised herself online using the names “Dr. Nargiza” and “Dr. Nargis,” offering services including buttock enlargement, shape correction, and lip enhancements. District Attorney Eric Gonzalez emphasized the dangers of the procedure, saying, “In all plastic surgery, the Brazilian butt lift must be performed with the greatest of care, as it has the highest mortality rate of any cosmetic surgery procedure. The defendant did not have a license to practice medicine in New York State and was not authorized to perform a BBL.”
Investigators say the surgery was performed outside an authorized medical facility, with no medical history review or basic physical examination. Shukurova reportedly failed to follow proper surgical protocols and discouraged the patient from seeking immediate medical attention as her condition worsened. Nearly three weeks after the procedure, the victim lost consciousness and was rushed to a hospital by her family.
Court documents allege that during the hospital stay, Shukurova sent messages to the patient urging her to lie to medical staff about the procedure and conceal her identity.
Shukurova faces charges including assault, unauthorized practice of a profession, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. She was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on January 9, 2026, on a Kings County warrant. Bail was set during her arraignment, and she is scheduled to return to court on March 25, 2026.
