Miami, FL
CBS News Miami Investigates: Here’s how to safely navigate plastic surgery
MIAMI – South Florida has become a top destination for cosmetic surgery, as people flock from all over the country to get nipped and tucked.
CBS News Miami investigates how to safely navigate plastic surgery.
Several women from different parts of the country told CBS News Miami they traveled to Miami specifically for plastic surgery.
“It just felt very factory-like. Let’s just get you in and get you out,” said one woman from Texas who did not want her identity revealed.
She decided she was ready for a new look by getting the popular surgery a Brazilian Butt Lift or BBL.
“My number one goal was, I wanted to look natural. And I didn’t want to look like I had surgery. I wanted to look like me, just a little more enhance,” said the woman from Texas.
She set out on a journey to find the right surgeon in Miami because the surgery is so common here, but with her living out of state, the search for her doctor was done remotely.
That’s when the red flags started as most of her consultations were not even with a doctor.
“Personally, I felt like in my research that a lot of doctors were more concerned rock star status that BBL’s gave them versus the actual outcome for the patient. Because it could be a life-changing procedure for a lot of women,” said the woman from Texas.
More than 28-thousand people decided to get the body contouring surgery in 2022, a two percent increase from 2019.
While the woman who traveled from Texas says she found the right doctor, not everyone was as lucky.
Tierra Gosha also did not want to be on camera, she instead wants the focus of her story to be on her mother Tanesha Walker.
“Things will never be the same. Holidays, birthdays, feel empty inside,” said Gosha.
Tanesha traveled from Indiana to South Florida for a breast augmentation that her original doctor said it wasn’t safe due to pre-existing conditions.
That’s when someone suggested another doctor.
Gosha says, before the surgery, she spoke to her mom on the phone. “She said, hey Tierra I’m here. She said I will call you when I’m out of surgery. I said okay mom, I love you. She said I love you too. I never heard anything else from my mom.”
Gosha told CBS News Miami that her mother said the new doctor told her mother to come in for surgery, the day after she contacted him.
It was their only in-person meeting, but according to her instead of Tanesha having her breasts done, the plan had changed.
Her daughter told CBS News Miami the new doctor performed a 360 liposuction and a BBL.
According to the medical examiner, the grandmother of 11 died after the procedure
As a result, the Florida Department of Health disciplined the doctor.
He was fined 10 thousand dollars, had to attend a one-hour lecture on safety and complications when it comes to a BBL and keep a record of conducting the procedure with ultrasound technology for 6 months.
“Her medical clearance was not for that type of procedure. So he should have not proceeded to attempt to do that type of procedure on her. She did not go through the proper medical clearance to be done,” said Gosha.
Since 2019 a total of 45 people have died from complications of plastic surgery in Miami alone.
Tanesha Walker was one of them. 21 have died since she did.
Despite the deaths, people are still traveling to South Florida to get popular surgeries like the Brazilian Butt Lift.
“Most of these patients are young mothers. It’s not just that one person has died. This death is incredibly tragic, but if affects the children. It affects the significant other. It affects the whole family,” said Dr. Pat Pazmino.
Dr Pat Pazmino with Miami Aesthetics has performed plastic surgery for 20 years and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
He told CBS News Miami the cosmetic surgery world is always changing and the demand is at an all-time high as more women are inquiring about body contouring procedures.
That means not everyone is being cared for the way they should be.
“Many times they would show up having already paid for the surgery. Having somebody who is not a doctor determines what procedure they were going to get. Then they would meet the surgeon five minutes before they were wheeled into the OR,” said Pazmino.
He says that’s not what should happen and insists that surgeons and patients should be creating plans for before, during and after surgery.
“Learn about the patient’s medical history, the patient’s surgical history and then do a physical exam. And all of that together is what the doctor uses to counsel the patient, what’s possible, what’s available,” said Pazmino.
A total of 10 women have died from a fat embolism in Miami since 2019, a complication commonly seen post BBL surgery.
The alarming amount of deaths has led to things like Florida House Bill 1471, which requires doctors to see someone a day before the surgery, the doctor on record to be the one to perform the surgery and ultrasound technology must be used during the procedure to guide where the fat is being injected.
“Really investigate the doctor. Go ahead and google. Google the doctor. Google the address where the procedure will take place. The best thing to do is to go to websites like check your surgeon dot com. They can also go to the Florida Department of Health because these resources only list the legitimate boards,” said Pazmino.
And there’s this advice from one patient to a potential one?
“Do your best to meet with the doctor in person because that’s when you really get an even greater feel of the competency of the doctor and who they are. How they’re going to take care of you because once you’re done with the surgery, their part may be finished but you still have a long road ahead of you,” said the woman from Texas.
Dr. Pazmino also says another way to see If your doctor is the right one for you is to ask questions, like where will the surgery take place and can it be done in an hospital?
Miami, FL
Man shot during $22,000 gold chain robbery at Supreme store in Miami’s Design District; Atlanta suspects arrested
Three men were arrested Saturday after a robbery inside a Miami clothing store left a man shot and hospitalized, according to Miami police and arrest affidavits.
The incident happened Friday afternoon in Miami’s popular Design District neighborhood.
Police said officers were dispatched around 4:20 p.m. Friday to the area of Miami Avenue and Northeast 41st Street after receiving reports of a man who had been shot. Officers found the victim, who told them he had been robbed and shot while shopping inside a Supreme store located at 45 NE 41st Street.
According to investigators, the victim said he was approached by three suspects inside the store, including one person with whom he had a prior conflict originating from the Atlanta area. Police said an argument broke out, and one suspect forcibly removed a gold chain from the victim’s neck. The chain was valued at approximately $22,000, according to police.
As the suspect ran out of the store, the victim attempted to chase him, police said. During the pursuit, an unidentified male shot the victim once in the stomach. The suspects then fled the area in a white Mercedes-Benz, according to the arrest affidavits.
Miami Police detectives later located the suspect vehicle parked near Northeast 10th Avenue and Northeast 91st Terrace. Police said they conducted surveillance and observed the suspects abandon the vehicle and walk through a nearby residential area before entering a home in the 800 block of Northeast 90th Street.
A residential search warrant was executed, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. During the search, detectives recovered the victim’s gold chain, keys to the suspect vehicle, and clothing believed to have been worn during the robbery, police said.
The suspects were identified as Jamar McKay, 25, Omarion Phillips, 20, and Kevieon Smith, 21. McKay was charged with armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. Phillips and Smith were charged as accessories after the fact, with Smith also facing an additional firearms-related charge, according to court records.
“This arrest sends a clear message: violent crime will not be tolerated in the City of Miami,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said in a statement. “Individuals who commit acts of violence in our city will be identified, located, and held fully accountable.”
Miami, FL
Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix to continue Fiesta Bowl preparations
Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix
Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix on Jan. 5, 2026, ahead of their matchup with the Ole Miss Rebels at the 2026 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
The Miami Hurricanes are looking to buck a bad trend. They’re 0-4 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Coach Mario Cristobal’s team gets its fifth shot this week as Miami (12-2) squares off against Mississippi (13-1) in the Fiesta Bowl at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at State Farm Stadium. The school may be 0-4 historically, but there is plenty at stake. This Fiesta Bowl is serving as a College Football Playoff semifinal.
The Hurricanes, the No. 10 seed in the 12-team playoff field, arrived at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, at the Ragsdale Executive Terminal of Sky Harbor Airport. The opposing team is expected 24 hours later.
The gathered crowd of 100 or so was made of members of the Fiesta Bowl Committee, easily identifiable in their yellow jackets, and their families.
In the past, there had been a welcome event in a tent adjacent to the runway. The coach typically made an opening statement, but players and coaches walked off the plane and straight to their buses parked nearby.
Players, dressed in white sweatsuits, filed off their American Airlines flight in single file on a blue carpet.
The players will take part in a media day on Jan. 6 at a Scottsdale hotel, with the coaches talking to the media the following day, the eve of the contest.
The Hurricanes enter on the heels of a six-game winning streak. Their last loss came on Nov. 1 against SMU, a game decided in double overtime 26-20. They have surrendered just 17 points in their two postseason games.
The winner advances to the national championship game on Jan. 19 against the winner of the other semifinal, the Peach Bowl between Oregon and Indiana.
Miami, FL
This Miami Developer Is Leaning Into Miami’s Surging Mansion Market
Naoshi Matsumoto has found a niche in the Miami luxury new-development scene—long dominated by glittering, amenity-packed condo buildings—in ultra-private, design-driven single-family waterfront homes.
As the founder of Sunland Group, the developer oversees architecture, construction and brokerage under a single umbrella, a setup that gives the firm unusual creative control in every step of building and selling a home. Given this level of autonomy, Matsumoto has shaped some of the city’s most luxurious stand-alone residences over the past decade.
His approach is on full display with his latest project: Marea Collection, four waterfront homes inside Belle Meade, an upscale gated enclave. Two of the houses Casa Vista and Casa Coral—each priced at $10 million—have hit the market. Casa Coral was developed in collaboration with the Chilean architect Gonzalo Mardones.
MORE: Castle Built for a Habsburg Outside Vienna Hits the Market for €33 Million
With more high-net-worth buyers trading penthouses for stand-alone homes—drawn by privacy, space and the appeal of living directly on the water—Matsumoto has found himself at the center of one of Miami’s gradual shifts in taste. He spoke to Mansion Global about why some buyers are rethinking condo life, what they’re seeking instead, and how he sees the city’s next wave of waterfront architecture evolving in the years ahead.
Mansion Global: What drives a Miami’s luxury buyer to move away from condo living and toward a stand-alone home?
Naoshi Matsumoto: High HOA fees that don’t provide the level of services buyers expect when they purchase a luxury condominium is the primary reason. We’re also seeing concerns about privacy, as well as the desire for a true waterfront lifestyle that enables buyers to house their personal boats in their backyard. It’s worth noting, too, that the price point of single-family waterfront homes today, like those in Marea Collection, is comparable to that of ultra-luxury condominiums. This makes the concept even more compelling to both current condo owners as well as those deciding between the two asset types.
Are condo owners expressing interest in the Marea Collection?
Most of our buyer interest is from current luxury-condo owners. The majority of them note a desire for increased privacy and the opportunity for true waterfront living as the main reasons they are considering making the switch.
How does Sunland Group’s vertically integrated model influence the way you design and deliver a home?
The close collaboration and ongoing involvement between the architects, construction team and brokers lead to more unified decision-making, which streamlines every process. Each detail is analyzed from multiple perspectives, resulting in homes that are architecturally appealing, functional and thoughtfully designed.
From Mansion Global Boutique: How To Create Comfort in Winter’s Dark Months, According to Kendall Wilkinson
Indoor-outdoor living is central to your work. What core design principles guide your waterfront projects?
We explore distinct modern expressions within a shared design language to give each home a unique identity while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. Because this aesthetic is more minimal, it enables you to draw the outdoors in beautifully, which is crucial for leveraging a waterfront home’s most desirable aspect: the water. In this way, the surrounding areas, with the waterways and views, become a signature design element.
We also rely heavily on a warm color palette, floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding glass doors, and multiple outdoor spaces to further integrate the outdoors. There is an inherent ease to waterfront living due to the desire to allow the natural landscape to take a more prominent role. These elements combined help blur the lines between indoors and out to create a sense of luxury and serenity.
Tell us about the Belle Meade neighborhood.
When we first came across Belle Meade and the four adjacent sites, we saw an immense opportunity, both in the amount of private waterfront access each residence would have, as well as the proximity to the open waterways. People not only want immediate access to water but also to be able to get out of the winding canals quickly and easily. Belle Meade enabled all of this, which is a rarity. The neighborhood is also an incredibly private and exclusive community, something buyers at this price point tend to appreciate. These elements, combined with a commute time of just 10 to 20 minutes to both Brickell and the Design District, make Belle Meade one of Miami’s best hidden gems.
What’s influencing what today’s luxury buyers want?
Many luxury buyers, especially those relocating from other states, prefer a move-in-ready home to avoid the extended timelines associated with design and ground-up development. While some degree of personalization is expected, it typically occurs through interior design elements such as furniture, art, and lighting rather than through structural or material changes.
Buyers are especially drawn to architectural elements such as refined wall paneling, purpose-designed niches, thoughtfully proportioned art walls, and spatial layouts that accommodate sculpture and large-scale artwork. They also place a high value on functional, open floor plans that allow luxury furniture pieces to be showcased as part of the overall spatial composition.
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Where do you see the greatest opportunity for the next wave of luxury single-family development in Miami?
Many buyers are beginning to look toward lesser-known waterfront neighborhoods such as Belle Meade, where architectural character, lot sizes, and street layouts offer a more intimate, curated residential experience. As true waterfront parcels become increasingly scarce and values continue to rise, these emerging enclaves present both strong investment fundamentals and an appealing architectural setting.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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