Model mum joins 1000 patients in class action again Dr Daniel Lanzer and associates

A tattoo model has joined a class action with more than 1000 Aussies who say they were allegedly left with botched bodies after surgery at Dr Daniel Lanzer’s clinic. See the photos and video.

A tattoo model who claims she was left with a “weird lump” of fat on her back, dents in her thighs and nerve pain following cosmetic surgery at a controversial clinic, has joined more than 1000 former patients waging a class action.

The number of people making a claim following surgery at Dr Daniel Lanzer’s Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Services, based in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane has soared to 1030, with more than 30 joining in the last month.

Maddens Lawyers is behind the class action against Dr Lanzer – and seven other defendants, including Dr Daniel Darbyshire who died in July.

Kylie De Costa is part of a class action following surgery at Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Services. Picture: Alison Wynd

Patients of Dr Lanzer and his doctor associates allege cosmetic procedures left them with a range of issues including extreme pain and with ongoing physical and psychological issues.

Dr Daniel Aronov, a TikTok star, who posted videos of procedures to nearly 13 million followers, performed two of the surgeries on Kylie De Costa, 46, while Dr Lanzer performed the third.

Dr Lanzer and his associates deny any wrongdoing and are defending the case.

Mum-of-three Ms De Costa, who works in the government health sector and models part-time, chose the Melbourne clinic because it had a strong presence on social media.

Ms De Costa, who herself was the subject of one of their TikTok posts before her first surgery, said other patients’ outcomes, “like their before and after pictures, looked good”.

She paid $14,000 for liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift.

However, she claims she did not get enough pain relief during her first liposuction procedure with Dr Aronov in 2020, and it had to be abandoned before it was finished.

She alleges she went on to suffer an infection in her leg and spent Christmas Day projectile vomiting.

Kylie De Costa has alleged she was left with a “weird lump” of fat on her back. Picture: Supplied

She has alleged she was left dents in her thighs and nerve pain following cosmetic surgery at one of Dr Daniel Lanzer’s clinics. Picture: Supplied

There were two further surgeries, which allegedly included corrective work, and she was due to have another, but decided not to go through with it following a media expose which revealed how a number of other patients were unhappy with their outcomes.

Ms De Costa claims she suffers ongoing hip pain and that area can feel like it’s “on fire”.

“I look back and I wish I never did any of it,” Ms De Costa, who worked in Geelong, Victoria, said.

“I really, really do. I never expected a few years after my last surgery to still have problems and still need to get things fixed.

Dr Daniel Lanzer and his wife Vivienne at the launch of The Cosmetic Surgery Show in 2020. Picture: Fiona Byrne/Supplied

“I don’t know what’s doable, like the mons pubis deformity and the weird back fat lump. I don’t know if it can be fixed, I guess. It’s pretty crappy.”

Maddens Lawyers Class Action Principal Kathryn Emeny said a third of the Dr Lanzer class action patients are male and that there are also around a dozen children, most of whom underwent otoplasty, which is an ear pinning procedure.

On July 1 new rules came into force to regulate the cosmetic surgery industry.

Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) president Dr Tim Edwards said they do not go far enough.

Ms De Costa is one of more than 1000 former patients who has signed up to a class action. Picture: Supplied

Dr Aronov was banned by the regulator from working in cosmetic surgery, but is allowed to work as a GP.

Dr Lanzer has retired.

Dr Aronov’s law firm Gilchrist Connell Lawyers refused to comment and he did not respond to other requests via other channels.

Dr Lanzer’s lawyer from Kennedys Law also refused to comment on behalf of her client.

Originally published as Model mum joins 1000 patients in class action again Dr Daniel Lanzer and associates