The new lawsuit, filed in federal court against Espino, the Richmond Breast Center, and Chippenham and Johnston Willis Hospitals, claims the surgeon's procedures on a North Carolina woman left her with "severe and permanent injuries."

Among the patients surgeries with Espino: a risk-reducing mastectomy with implant reconstruction, liposuction, at least four fat grafting procedures, a right breast capsulectomy, a bilateral breast reconstruction revision, a breast hematoma evacuation, and a hip-to-hip excision of the patient's lower abdomen, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit states Espino obtained insurance authorization for the abdomen procedure by claiming the patient suffered from a "malignant neoplasm" of abdominal tissue, even though there was no pathology or other test result sug

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