Botched nose job leads to surgeon's arrest

A nose job can be hazardous to health.

One woman dentist learned this the hard way when she was recently victimized by a neophyte cosmetic surgeon who operated on her under false pretenses.

Dr. Mary Jean Villanueva, of Makati City, has filed criminal charges of reckless imprudence resulting in serious physical injuries against Dr. Manuel Calayan, a cosmetic surgeon trainee.

Calayan was arrested last Feb. 18 in his clinic at Medical Plaza-Makati by the Makati police on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Cesar Santamaria of the Makati Metropolitan Trial Court.

Based on the complaint of Villanueva, sometime in April 1996 Calayan contracted and agreed to operate, correct and reshape her nose for a fixed fee.

Calayan supposedly introduced himself as a fellow in cosmetic and aesthetic surgery when in fact he was merely a trainee under the auspices of a certain Dr. Jane Enrique.

Villanueva noted that the operation was supposed to be a simple procedure involving the removal of some flesh and tissues from the nose.

However, after the operation, Villanueva pointed out that fibrosis developed on her proboscis and a big pimple appeared at the tip due to the pressure caused by the silicone bridge.

Five months later, Villanueva was again operated on under the advice of Calayan. In June 1997, Calayan operated on Villanueva's nose for the third time to find out whether there was an infection inside.

After the final operation, Villanueva said that the fibrosis was still there and in addition stitch scars appeared on both sides of her nose. She also complained of bleeding and a pimple in the right nostril, and pus coming out of the fibrosis.