Fresno cosmetic surgeon accused of botched procedures gives up medical license. Here’s why
A cosmetic surgeon in Fresno who was sued by several of his patients for allegedly botching their surgeries has surrendered his medical license, according to the Medical Board of California.
Dr. Kevin Ciresi, formerly with Athenix Body and Sculpting in Fresno, gave up his medical license on June 6 after choosing not to continue being on probation under conditions set by the medical board.
Those conditions could include drug testing, a workplace monitor, attending substance abuse support meetings, and undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.
Ciresi was on probation after the board took disciplinary action against him in 2020 for gross negligence, incompetence, poor record keeping and repeated negligent acts.
Carlos Villatoro, public information officer for the Medical Board of California, said the board had reached a settlement agreement with Ciresi on June 6 that would have extended his probation for six years.
But Ciresi’s lawyer Peter Osinoff, of Bonne Bridges in Los Angeles, said his client didn’t want that.
“He told me he decided to retire from the practice of medicine, “ Osinoff said. “He simply didn’t’ want to continue to be on medical board probation.”
News of Ciresi’s departure from the medical field was welcomed by his former patients, who have filed medical malpractice lawsuits against him.
“Thank goodness,” said Raquel Hermosillo of Merced. “Now he won’t be able to hurt anyone else.”
Hermosillo sued Ciresi after she went in for a tummy tuck and was left with a massive scar across her mid-section and a large lump above her stomach.
When she went back to Athenix to report the problems, she was told they would fix it at no additional costs. She said they also told her they would need to bring in a specialist in reconstructive surgery.
She was fine with anyone but Ciresi.
“When I saw him in the office, I said I don’t want him touching me,” Hermosillo said.
Hermosillo’s Fresno attorney Monrae English is representing eight former patients of Ciresi’s and all have similar stories of pain, scarring and looking disfigured.
“These women never went to Kevin Ciresi expecting miracles, but they did go with the expectation that their physician was competent and safe,” English said. “Although tremendously stressful, it took courage for these women to step forward to pursue justice against Kevin Ciresi with the primary goal of halting his practice so that no other person could be hurt or maimed.”
English said her lawsuits against the former doctor will go forward, regardless if he is no longer practicing medicine.\
Background on cases
From 2004 through 2018, Ciresi was arrested for driving drunk five times in various California cities, ranging from communities in the Bay Area to Orange County.
In all of those cases, police found his blood alcohol concentration to be more than double the legal limit to drive of .08, according to records from the Medical Board of California.
Patient suits
Ciresi has been named in at least nine lawsuits from former patients. One malpractice lawsuit was filed by the family of a Selma woman who stopped breathing during a face and neck lift in October 2016.
Once the patient’s heart stopped, Ciresi tried for seven minutes to revive her but was unsuccessful. Paramedics were called and she was stabilized and transported to a local hospital, the lawsuit states.
The woman underwent intensive medical care and rehabilitation for a brain injury because of the loss of oxygen to her brain. The case was settled two years later with the victim and her family receiving $3.9 million, court records show.
In another case, he was sued by Shelby Lowery of Modesto.
Lowery wanted a breast augmentation. But the procedure didn’t go as planned. She alleged that Ciresi gave her the wrong sized implants — much bigger than what she wanted. After the surgery her breasts were misshapen and she was in severe pain.
She allegedly complained to Ciresi, who agreed to redo the procedure after six months. But the results were even worse after that procedure, she said. She developed an infection and was left with significant scarring. Her implants also seemed to shift to her sides when she laid on her back.
She filed a complaint with the medical board and a civil lawsuit against Athenix and Ciresi in 2020. Her case has since been settled.
This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
