Cuban Woman Detained for Unlicensed Plastic Surgery Recovery Center in Miami Shares Her Side of the Story

Mónica García, a Cuban woman recently arrested in Miami along with her daughter for operating an unlicensed aesthetic surgery recovery center and improperly handling medical waste at another Miami-Dade residence, is denying the allegations and offers her account of the events.

García admits that in the past she operated without a license, but asserts that this time, Oasis Retreat—the name of the center—did have the necessary permits. However, a series of unfortunate events led to the police discovering patients in a non-licensed residence. "About two years ago, we didn't have the means to obtain a license," she explained to Telemundo 51 regarding a prior arrest. Nevertheless, a plumbing issue forced her to evacuate patients and move them to another licensed center.

Subsequently, another incident involving an FPL transformer led her to relocate the patients yet again, this time to the house that was raided by the police. She acknowledges that it wasn't licensed, but insists it was equipped with trained staff. "All we really want is to work and not be seen as criminals," she lamented.

Regulatory Challenges

Mónica García is not opposed to regulations for such centers. However, she criticizes the current rules, which require them to meet the standards of an assisted living facility rather than a short-term recovery site. She believes this service, given its high demand, needs its own set of regulations. "This is a necessity we have; Miami, particularly Dade County, is the cosmetic surgery capital of the U.S., and all we're doing is providing support," she argues.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons acknowledges Miami as the leading city for cosmetic surgery in the U.S., but changing the regulations for recovery centers is complex, as it falls under state legislature jurisdiction.

Authorities remain skeptical of García's claims, especially since she was arrested two years ago at the same location for similar accusations. "This individual has been arrested before and has faced charges for the same reason we're here today," stated Detective Ángel Rodríguez, spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, during the operation.

Meanwhile, Mónica and her daughter face charges, and the State Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has revoked Oasis Retreat's provisional license, leaving the center without authorization to operate. The provisional license had been granted because Laura García purchased the business from a previous owner who did have authorization. However, the AHCA ultimately refused to grant a permanent license, citing the center's failure to pass state inspections. The García family is currently appealing this decision.