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A California plastic surgeon who was found dead in a backyard swimming pool last week lost her medical license after a botched tummy tuck left a patient dead — with newly surfaced records revealing the woman died just one day after her cosmetic procedure.
Former surgeon Sarwa Aldoori, 71, was identified by the Kern County Coroner after her body was discovered Tuesday evening at a home in Bakersfield.
Cops said the investigation remains active, with the cause, manner and circumstances surrounding her death still pending.
The discovery comes more than two years after California regulators permanently revoked her medical license after she refused to participate in a court-ordered probation program tied to the patient’s death, according to California Medical Board documents.
The records show Aldoori was charged with multiple violations, including gross negligence, performing surgery, and administering anesthesia in an unaccredited surgical center.
The disciplinary case centered on a 43-year-old woman who sought a consultation with Aldoori and her husband, Dr. Yakdan Alqaisi, on March 23, 2016, for a tummy tuck procedure.
Aldoori performed the surgery on April 13, 2016, while Alqaisi served as the anesthesiologist, according to the records.
The following day, the woman’s family called 911 after finding her unconscious and without a pulse. She was taken to Mercy Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The Kern County Coroner determined the woman died from a fat embolism caused by the surgery, with adult respiratory distress syndrome listed as a contributing factor.
State regulators previously alleged Aldoori did not have sufficient training to perform the cosmetic procedure.
Aldoori, who spent roughly 35 years practicing as an OB-GYN, was one of two physicians at Bella Health and Beauty, a plastic surgery practice in northeast Bakersfield specializing in women’s health, wellness and cosmetic procedures.
Her disciplinary troubles began after accusations were filed in 2021 over the fatal surgery. She was initially placed on a seven-year probation, but Medical Board records show regulators later revoked her license after she refused to comply with the probation program.
Aldoori, who spent roughly 35 years practicing as an OB-GYN, was one of two physicians at Bella Health and Beauty, a plastic surgery practice in northeast Bakersfield specializing in women’s health, wellness and cosmetic procedures.
The revocation became effective in July 2022 before Aldoori ultimately surrendered her California physician’s license in March 2024.
Authorities have not said whether foul play is suspected in Aldoori’s death and the investigation remains ongoing.
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