A 53-year-old woman in Moscow, identified as Lyubov, was left unable to close her eyes after undergoing plastic surgery performed by an unqualified Russian practitioner.
Tatyana Stankevich, a 38-year-old beauty therapist operating under the guise of a plastic surgeon, is accused of performing procedures without proper qualifications. Stankevich denies any wrongdoing but has been placed under house arrest pending trial.
Lyubov sought blepharoplasty from Stankevich to remove excess skin from her lower eyelids but claims the surgery caused severe complications.
“I had huge bruises under my eyes after the surgery,” Lyubov said. “My eyelids began to turn inside out, and severe tearing started. I realized something was wrong, but [the surgeon] kept insisting the symptoms would improve and the skin would tighten.”
Lyubov alleges that Stankevich injected her eyelids with medication to reassure her, only for her condition to worsen. “Then she went on vacation,” Lyubov added, noting that another clinic later informed her she required urgent corrective treatment.
Stankevich allegedly conducted the surgery at her Moscow apartment, where she ran her unlicensed business, “Beauty Therapy.” Authorities discovered she was not qualified to perform surgeries and had no medical license.
The Russian Investigative Committee reported that Stankevich had operated on multiple individuals, some of whom did not verify her credentials. Two other women have since filed complaints, with one requiring intensive care after a procedure.
Police raided Stankevich’s home, uncovering evidence, including photos of her procedures and unregistered medical drugs. Authorities revealed that surgeries were performed both at her apartment and an unlicensed medical facility.
Stankevich maintains her innocence, claiming, “This is a complete fake. There is simply no crime.” She insists surgeries were conducted in a clinic and blames one patient for disregarding post-operative instructions.
Police continue to investigate whether other patients may have been affected by Stankevich’s unlicensed operations. She will remain under house arrest until her court hearing on January 29.
