A Garden Grove woman is speaking out after charges were announced against a man the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said posed as a doctor to perform invasive cosmetic procedures.
The woman, who goes by Monica, said she wanted a touch-up in May and found Dr. Elias Renteria on Google.
“A week later, I couldn’t blink. I had problems blinking and my eyebrow was collapsing over my eye,” she said.
Renteria offered to fix the mistakes and even offered her a costly procedure called a thread lift, but it turns out he wasn’t even a licensed physician. Monica paid him more than $2,000.
Elias Renteria Segoviano, 61, is accused of targeting Spanish-speaking women and using a variety of names for himself and his business, including “Dr. Elias”, “Dr. Elias Renteria,” “Dr. Elias Renteria M.D.“ and even used the vanity plate “ELIASMD,” officials said.
“I’m embarrassed. I don’t go out anymore, I don’t see my friends anymore. I was prettier before I walked in his office and now I’m fighting to get my old looks back,” Monica said.
Renteria is being held on $1 million bail, and investigators are looking for more victims.
In the meantime, Monica said she’s looking for a doctor to correct the damage that’s been done and a lawyer to represent her.