Plastic surgeon charged after wife seized, went into cardiac arrest, and died following cosmetic procedures

GULF BREEZE, Fla. (TCN) -- Officials recently arrested a 41-year-old plastic surgeon after his wife reportedly experienced seizures, went into cardiac arrest, and subsequently died after complications from multiple cosmetic procedures he was performing on her.

According to an arrest report from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, on Nov. 21, 2023, deputies responded to Restore Plastic Surgery, where Midway Fire Department personnel were actively rendering aid on a cardiac arrest patient, Hillary Brown. The victim was transported to a hospital, where she remained on life support until she died several days later. Medical staff determined Hillary Brown had suffered lidocaine toxicity.

An employee at the plastic surgery office reportedly told officials, "There was a lot of negligence in the office that led to Hillary’s cardiac arrest."

According to NBC News, during the incident, Dr. Benjamin Brown, the victim’s husband, was performing a scar revision, arm liposuction, lip injection, and ear adjustment on her.

An employee told deputies Hillary Brown took "a plethora of pills" before her surgery, which allegedly included Versed, tramadol, gabapentin, Valium, and antibiotics. An employee also told investigators Hillary Brown prepared her own IV bags, but they ran out during surgery.

Benjamin Brown allegedly told an employee to get Xylocaine (lidocaine). According to the arrest report, the employee said Benjamin Brown poured "two containers into a bowl," and he "didn’t dilute them or anything" before injecting the substance into his wife’s arms and face.

Employees told investigators the victim expressed concerns over her vision, and her face became "puffy." Benjamin Brown continued the procedures anyway. An employee alleges that after an injection by her right eye, the victim began to seize.

When asked if they should call 911 several times, Benjamin Brown allegedly stated he wanted to "try and do it himself," an employee said. There was reportedly no oxygen or EKG in the room. After approximately 10 to 15 minutes, another employee called 911 but not at the direction of Benjamin Brown.

On June 17, the sheriff’s office announced Brown’s arrest on a charge of second-degree homicide –– manslaughter by culpable negligence.

According to the arrest report, deputies learned this wasn’t the first incident in which Benjamin Brown administered too much medication to a patient and had issues waking them up. In January 2023, Brown performed a brow lift on another patient when he allegedly gave her too much medication.

A former employee told the sheriff’s office Brown referred to this victim as his "little alien," and the witness believed Benjamin Brown allegedly "intentionally gave the victim higher doses of medications."

The Florida Department of Health had filed an administrative complaint against Benjamin Brown alleging similar cases, The Associated Press reports. They had also restricted the plastic surgeon’s license in May so that he could only operate under another doctor’s supervision because he allegedly allowed his unlicensed wife to perform laser treatments.