Cosmetic surgery, spa business searched in Port St. Lucie

PORT ST. LUCIE — Police executed a search warrant at Elite Top Aesthetics following information of possible links to a former plastic surgery business where arrests were made after patients reported botched procedures, a police spokesperson said Tuesday.

Elite Top Aesthetics is at an address in the 10300 block of South U.S. 1, and the search warrant was executed June 27, according to Sgt. Dominick Mesiti, Port St. Lucie Police spokesperson. Police are working with the state Department of Health as part of the case, he said.

“We received information that there may be unlicensed personnel performing procedures at this clinic and it may be related to our prior investigation of Cosmetica,” Mesiti said.

Cosmetica Plastic Surgery and Anti-Aging was in the 1900 block of Southeast Port St. Lucie Boulevard just west of U.S. 1.

Four people associated with Cosmetica were arrested in June after police and state officials reported uncovering a host of issues at the facility, including surgical procedures performed by a physician assistant as opposed to a licensed surgeon. A fifth person remains at large, Mesiti said.

Mesiti said after media coverage of events at Cosmetica, about two dozen more Cosmetica patients who thought they were victimized came forward.

About six people came forward indicating some people arrested in connection with Cosmetica were performing procedures at Elite Top Aesthetics, Mesiti said.

A phone message left Tuesday at Elite Top Aesthetics was not immediately returned. A business website describes it as “#1 Med Spa in Port St Lucie.”

At Cosmetica Plastic Surgery and Anti-Aging, patients reported getting procedures including “liposuction 360,” “Brazilian butt lift with fat transfer,” “tummy tuck,” and “breast augmentation.”

According to court records, the state Department of Health on May 30, 2023, issued a final order revoking the business’s registration to operate. That came after an emergency suspension order in June 2022.

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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.