Plastic surgeon Gulnara Shah was convicted
On March 9, 2022, the Simonovsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Gulnara Shah, a plastic surgeon and former owner of the capital's Sfera clinic, to 1 year and 10 months of imprisonment in a general regime colony. Sfera employees carried out operations without the appropriate license. The case was opened in November 2022 after an incident with one of the clinic’s patients.
The court found Gulnara Shah guilty under paragraphs. “a”, “c” part 2 art. 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (provision of services that do not meet the requirements for the safety of life or health of consumers, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, resulting in negligence in causing serious harm to human health). The case was initiated in November 2018 after an incident with a patient who was operated on by Sphere plastic surgeon Gevorg Stepanyan. During rhinoplasty, the woman experienced severe bleeding, but the clinic doctors did not immediately call an ambulance, but tried to provide resuscitation assistance themselves.
“Contrary to the requirements of the law, the accomplices continued to independently provide the patient with inadequate medical care. Only three days later, an ambulance was called for the woman, who took her in serious condition to one of the capital’s hospitals, where qualified doctors saved her life. As a result of the actions of the accomplices, the woman’s health was seriously harmed,” says the website of the Moscow prosecutor’s office. It is clarified that the woman was in a coma for some time.
In addition to the fact that the clinic did not have a medical license to provide plastic surgery services, it lacked the necessary medical equipment, and the medical staff could not provide round-the-clock monitoring of patients, noted the technical department of Roszdravnadzor in Moscow and the Moscow region.
In December 2022, Gulnara Shah was arrested and then transferred to house arrest. She had to close the clinic. In October 2019, the plastic surgeon began seeing her at the Moscow NACFF clinic. Currently, there is no information about Shah on the clinic’s website.
In addition to the term of 1 year and 10 months, the court ordered Gulnara Shah to pay the victim 560 thousand rubles, and also prohibited her from carrying out medical activities for two years.
In 2022, in several Russian clinics, a series of deaths occurred during or after aesthetic plastic surgery, which became a prerequisite for the emergence of a new Procedure for the provision of medical care in the field of plastic surgery. The procedure was approved by order of the Ministry of Health No. 298n in May 2022. According to the document, aesthetic surgery clinics must have a hospital, CT, MRI, and intensive care units. “In fact, after the tightening and the release of a strict Order in the shortest possible time, we no longer observed such a number of deaths,” said the chief freelance plastic surgeon of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Natalya Manturova, in November 2022.
Source: Moscow Prosecutor's Office
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Clinic of Dr. Gulnara Shah Moscow
How did you choose your profession?
It was a dynastic choice, my grandmother and mother were doctors and therefore there was no choice of profession, I always knew that I would be in medicine. After graduating from the institute, she joined the Department of Craniofacial Surgery at the Central Scientific Research Institute, and after that, in the early 90s, she was invited to a private clinic as a plastic surgeon.
What would you like to say about yourself as a chief physician?
The head of a private clinic is not always a plastic surgeon himself. In this sense, I am lucky, I know the specialty, I can evaluate the level of the doctors who work for me and there are no random people in my clinic.
Do you have a personal recipe for success? Tell us about it.
Quality and pedantry are the basis of our profession; in plastic, little things are important and, of course, continuous professional development, because here, like nowhere else, new techniques appear every year.
What could you tell about yourself outside of your profession - interesting facts or actions?
Outside of my profession, I am an extreme person, in my youth I was involved in horse riding, then surfing, I love to travel, I am quite democratic, I study new countries from the inside.
If you caught a goldfish, what three wishes would you make?
My desires are global, but since such a question is raised, I will answer: I would like to stop interethnic wars, solve the issue of street children in our country, and wish health to my family and friends.
Let's imagine that you were able to use a time machine. What moment would you like to change in your life?
I like my life, I don’t think I would want to change anything.
What question would you like to answer yourself, but you are never asked?
As a wedding general, no matter what company I find myself in, I am always bombarded with questions, so the question that I would like to answer myself, I think, has already been asked more than once.
Let's imagine that you were invited to a 15-minute audience with the President of the Russian Federation. What would you talk to him about during this time?
On the state of state medical institutions.
Tell me, what is medicine for you? How do you perceive it?
Medicine is my life, any doctor who chooses this profession passes all patients through himself, and if he is not like that, he usually changes his specialty with age.
How do you see the prospects for domestic healthcare?
I think we are now in the process of restructuring. Whether this is good or bad is difficult for me to judge, only time will tell.
What would be your first three decisions if you woke up tomorrow as the Minister of Health?
- Bring back free medical care, at least for certain categories of citizens;
- Do not touch large city hospitals throughout the country, which have already formed their infrastructure;
- This is a budget issue, but if possible, I would restore small outpatient clinics in villages with benefits for doctors.
What is a healthy lifestyle in your understanding and do you actually adhere to it?
Yes, I do. And it is simple: healthy eating, sports and pleasant people surrounded.
Let's move on to the medical institution that you run. What, from your point of view, is its key difference from others?
Quality of services. We have an absolutely individual approach to each client and deliver 100% results.
What historical moments had the greatest influence on the formation of the institution that you now lead?
I worked for a very long time in the Presidential Administration system, as a consultant and as a tenant. We have been in our own premises for 3 years and this, of course, is a completely different level of service for patients.
I would like to ask what new things have been introduced into the work of the institution during your work?
Our profession hosts at least 4-5 symposiums every year. There must be a participant from our clinic. We implement everything new that appears in the field of plastic surgery.
What indicators, from your point of view, most clearly characterize the medical institution that you manage?
We do not work for the flow, the clinic performs 30-40 operations per month, hence the quality.
What diagnostic or treatment methods in your medical institution would you consider unique?
All patients undergoing surgery must be examined. Computed tomography and ultrasound diagnostic methods are standard for plastic surgery.
What prospects do you see for the further development of the institution in modern conditions?
Perhaps we will have a branch for minimally invasive techniques.
And at the end of our conversation, what would you like to wish the readers?
Health, beauty, self-confidence.
Shah Gulnara Shavkatovna
The path to medicine for candidate of medical sciences Gulnara Shavkatovna Shah began at the Tashkent State Medical Institute (1981-1987), from which she graduated with a diploma in “Maxillofacial Surgery.” For the next 7 years, the doctor worked at the Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery in Moscow. Her professionalism was noticed - since 1994, for 5 years, the specialist held the honorary position of a visiting plastic surgeon in Moscow, at the same time being an official consultant on maxillofacial and plastic surgery at City Clinical Hospital No. 15. Later, in this position, she managed to work in the capital’s Health Committee, and then, until 2004, at the Medical Center for the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, where she was also a leading plastic surgeon.
The doctor's track record includes only reputable medical institutions. Including Hospital No. 1 of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation and the Family Clinic. Since 2013, Gulnara Shavkatovna has been practicing at the scientific and practical center for reconstructive surgery “Sfera” and the “Top Clinic of Aesthetic Medicine”.
All this time, Dr. Gulnara Shah continued to improve her knowledge and skills, taking advanced training courses in Russia and abroad. The doctor managed to attend 36 international and national congresses, conferences and master classes, and was not only a participant, but a speaker and rapporteur. Recent educational events include the V National Congress “Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetology”, the ISAPS conference in Russia “Aesthetic Plastic Surgery - The Path to Success”, and the International Author’s Dissection Course on Rhinoplasty. In August 2022, she completed a two-week internship at the Dallas Plastic Surgery Center (USA).
The surgeon is also interested in science. Gulnara Shah is the author of numerous scientific publications - the dissertation “Clinics, diagnosis and treatment of patients with post-traumatic deformities of the lower wall of the orbit”, on the topic of which 10 printed works have been published in periodicals and 2 copyright certificates, as well as another 30 printed works in other areas of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.
A highly qualified expert is happy to share her knowledge and enormous experience with young specialists, therefore, since 2022 she has been a teacher at the Department of Plastic Surgery at the RUDN University.
Plastic surgeon Gulnara Shah
Blepharoplasty is recognized as the most popular plastic surgery in Russia. 22% of the total number of people who decided to change their appearance surgically turned to domestic specialists for correction of their upper and lower eyelids. Today, more and more people are really trying to get rid of drooping eyelids and “bags” under the eyes in order to become more beautiful and younger, because a young and blooming appearance always increases self-esteem, and this is exactly what modern society strives for—satisfaction with one’s appearance. Is eyelid surgery really a simple operation, as many doctors write on social networks? Has the general approach to eyelid rejuvenation changed and is it possible to perform blepharoplasty under local anesthesia? We learned the answers to these and other questions from the famous Moscow specialist, candidate of medical sciences, plastic surgeon Shah Gulnara Shavkatovna.
Corr.: Can we say that blepharoplasty is an “ageless” operation? Is it true that the need for eyelid correction can arise in both young and older patients?
Gulnara Shah: Blepharoplasty is a very provocative operation. Despite its apparent simplicity, it has many nuances that must be taken into account when carrying out. For example, when correcting the upper eyelids, you need to take into account that in this area the skin is mobile, thin, and easily stretches, so you can begin to operate at the age of 30, especially if there is a genetic predisposition to ptosis (sagging). The operation can be performed according to indications several times in a lifetime.
Corr.: Has the philosophy of eyelid rejuvenation changed? Is it enough for modern patients to simply “remove hernias under the eyes” or just “remove excess skin of the upper eyelids”?
Gulnara Shah: The philosophy of eyelid rejuvenation as a whole has changed. The technique of total fat removal and maximum skin removal, which can result in sunken eyes and contouring of the orbital edge, has been replaced by methods that are more gentle on tissue and, on the contrary, replenishing lost volume.
Corr.: What is the main thing when performing upper blepharoplasty?
Gulnara Shah: There are several important points when performing upper blepharoplasty. The first is to distinguish between real ptosis of the eyelid and ptosis of the eyebrows or upper part of the face. If the second symptom is present, the patient will clearly be dissatisfied with the final result, since isolated blepharoplasty will not eliminate the overhang. In this case, it is necessary to carry out correction of the upper zone of the face or eyebrow lifting. The second nuance is to be careful with the subcutaneous tissue, since it is extremely difficult to restore in the area of the upper eyelids.
Corr.: What tricks and tricks can hide a scar after upper eyelid surgery?
Gulnara Shah: As for the suture, in my opinion, an intradermal suture, sealing the wound after suturing and mandatory wearing of strips (adhesive bandages) allows you to make the suture invisible. It should be taken into account that sutures heal worse under tension (this brings us back to the issue of proper tissue removal).
Patient of Gulnara Shah before and after upper blepharoplasty
Corr.: Is lower blepharoplasty technically more difficult than upper blepharoplasty?
Gulnara Shah: Lower blepharoplasty is definitely more complicated, but with the skill of the surgeon and modern techniques, it allows you to radically rejuvenate the face. In addition, lower blepharoplasty approaches are used to rejuvenate the middle third of the face. In combination with fat redistribution or lipofilling, this operation allows you to add volume to the entire periorbital area.
Corr.: Why is transconjunctival eyelid surgery or, as they like to call it, “seamless” blepharoplasty so attractive to patients? Is there really no scar after it?
Gulnara Shah: Nobody wants to have postoperative scars, and transconjunctival plastic surgery offers just that. Access is made through the mucous membrane, that is, no incisions are made on the surface of the skin, which pleases people with the absence of external scars. Recovery after this blepharoplasty technique usually requires less time than after classical blepharoplasty. I think these two components have ensured such a high demand for transconjunctival eyelid surgery among patients.
Corr.: How long does it take you to perform upper, lower and circumferential blepharoplasty?
Gulnara Shah: A good surgeon usually performs upper blepharoplasty (classical) in 30-35 minutes. The lower one takes 40-45 minutes, that is, on average, a circular operation takes about 1.5 hours. The exceptions are oriental eyelids, secondary operations and operations with redistribution of fat bags.
Patient of Gulnara Shah, 63 years old. Photos before and after blepharoplasty of the upper and lower eyelids. One month after surgery
Corr.: What anesthesia is used? And is it possible to do blepharoplasty under local anesthesia?
Gulnara Shah: We use the latest generation drugs to induce anesthesia. Modern anesthetics provide high-quality and effective anesthesia and do not have the side effects that drugs used, for example, in Soviet times had. The patient will not feel nausea or headaches, which are so frightening to uninformed opponents of anesthesia.
General anesthesia is often used for volumetric interventions such as circumferential eyelid surgery, fat transfer from the eyelid area to the nasolacrimal groove. Also, anesthesia will be chosen as a method of pain relief if a person has an allergic reaction or individual contraindications to local anesthetic drugs. It is preferable to choose anesthesia even if the patient has increased nervous sensitivity and emotionality, which can lead to panic attacks.
But, as a rule, blepharoplasty is performed under local anesthesia, with the exception of patients with individual characteristics. At the same time, the patient himself must be mentally stable in order to undergo surgery while conscious.
Corr.: What complications can arise after blepharoplasty?
Gulnara Shah: After eyelid correction, negative consequences such as bleeding, hematomas, suture dehiscence, infection and wound suppuration can occur. An undesirable complication may be severe scarring. Their causes may be the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, or failure to comply with the rules of rehabilitation. The consequences of medical errors can be blepharoptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid, which makes it impossible to open the eye) or lagophthalmos (the eye does not close completely). Some complications can be managed with conservative methods; in other cases, repeat surgery may be required. To prevent such a development of events, it is necessary to competently approach the issue of choosing a plastic surgeon, as well as follow all the rules of the recovery period and inform the doctor about all existing diseases so that the doctor can assess possible risks before surgery.
You must understand that any operation is a risk. Swelling and small hematomas (bruises) are an essential part of any surgical procedure. Comparing an operation with a trip to a beauty salon is, at the very least, reckless. In any case, the rehabilitation period after surgery takes 2 - 3 weeks.
Plastic surgeon Gulnara Shah in the operating room
Corr.: If we talk about older patients, does it make sense for them to limit themselves to blepharoplasty? Or you should think about rejuvenating your entire face, because by the age of 50 the signs of aging are already clearly expressed.
Gulnara Shah: The age of the patient is a separate issue. The state of health influences what results a person expects from the operation. It is also very important in what area the patient works. After all, what is important for an actress or a public figure may not be of much importance for a housewife and vice versa. I would still recommend combining blepharoplasty with a general face lift for a working active woman.
Corr.: How much does blepharoplasty cost in your clinic?
Gulnara Shah: Our prices for eyelid surgery are quite affordable. We try to calculate the cost in such a way as to not only adequately assess the professionalism of the surgeon who performs the operation, but also take into account the patient’s desire to “not go broke” to improve his appearance. We have a fairly loyal pricing policy, so I think many can afford to undergo surgery in our clinic. The task of a plastic surgeon is to make a person more beautiful, and we also try to make our services as accessible as possible.
You can make an appointment with plastic surgeon Gulnara Shah by phone or via Direct on Instagram @dr_gulnarashah
