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OC plastic surgeon faces new accusation, felony battery charges – NBC Los Angeles

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OC plastic surgeon faces new accusation, felony battery charges – NBC Los Angeles


“I feel mutilated and felt lied to,” said Toni Arken, a former patient of Dr. Arian Mowlavi. “I just don’t even understand how someone could work like this.”

Arken had surgery with Mowlavi in 2018. Her experience is detailed in a recently amended medical board accusation against the plastic surgeon also known as Dr Laguna.

His strong social media presence drew her to his practice. She said she thought she would be in the best hands after reading more about his background. 

“He’s training all these doctor. He’s written books,” said Arken. “He’s got to be it. It’s Laguna Beach.”

Arken wanted a Brazilian butt lift or BBL, but she said the consultation led to Mowlavi convincing her she needed so much more.

I feel mutilated and I felt lied to … I just don’t even understand how someone could work like this.

Toni Arken, former patient of Dr. Mowlavi

“He grabs me. He’s like, ‘Look,’” said Arken. “He grabs me about 2 inches above my vagina while I’m naked and grabs me right underneath my breast from behind me, so he’s behind me. And he’s pulling, cinching up and cinching down and (saying) ‘We can give you abs and all of this.’”

The I-Team spoke with Arken and two other former patients of Mowlavi who said they were also upsold on other procedures and felt bullied by him. 

Mcayla Sarno said minutes before her surgery, while she was disrobed and already medicated, Mowlavi questioned what they were doing with her breasts. Sarno said she was shocked. 

“If I give the wrong answer or explain it wrong, I’m about to go into surgery,” Sarno said. “I asked, ‘Can I get my phone and show you some photos?’ And that’s when the ridicule began with this constant, ‘You’re making this very difficult. It’s not that hard.’”

Former patient Chalene Johnson said she also felt bullied.

“We’re strong women. I mean, she’s a doctor,” said Johnson about Sarno. “We are professionals, and to find yourself in that situation, It’s hard. It’s hard to even explain to other people because you’re intelligent, all of your red flags are going off. But it’s a renowned doctor, it’s an author, it’s someone who’s supposedly critically acclaimed.”

Arken, Sarno and Johnson were among more than 30 plaintiffs in a civil suit Mowlavi recently settled for $6 million. So too was a patient who asked to be called Bobbi to protect her identity.

“It was the scariest experience of my life,” she said. 

She is Patient A in the amended medical board accusation. Days after her surgery with Mowlavi, she was rushed to the ER and eventually transferred to the burn unit at UCI where she stayed in a medically induced coma for more than a week.

“It turned septic,” Bobbi explained, “which then caused kidney failure, liver failure and damage to my heart.”

For months after her procedures, Arken said she could barely move.

“I couldn’t even get up and stand up long enough to make my kids dinner,” said Arken.

At the end of the day, I don’t want this guy to hurt another person.

Toni Arken, former patient of Dr. Mowlavi

She said to this day, she cannot do a sit up as a result. And she said she still reflects on her traumatizing consultation with Mowlavi.

“I kept kind of arguing, and he’s like, “Listen, it’s only going to be about a 4 to 6 inch scar,” said Arken, and then questioned what he was planning. “I just don’t know,” she said. “I don’t like how that’s pulled up and he (said), ‘I know what a p***y should look like.’ It was just overwhelming.”

She said Mowlavi’s insistence on giving her a vagina lift had devastating results.

“Every day when I go the restroom I will pee out on the seat and usually pee on my leg a little bit, which is very embarrassing and not something I like talking about.”

When she obtained her medical records from Mowlavi’s office a year and a half after her surgery, she discovered her operative note listed her name, but a wrong birthdate and incorrect details of her surgery.

“His name’s on here, signed and dated that day after,” said Arken, holding up her incorrect operative note. “So it’s not me at all, 100%.”

In June 2023, Laguna Beach police raided Mowlavi’s office and investigators removed boxes of records and computers. In July of this year, the Orange County District Attorney’s office filed two felony counts of battery with serious bodily injury against Mowlavi related to two patients. He has not yet entered a plea. A civil suit filed by the DA’s office in June of last year accused Mowlavi of 19 unlawful business practices. But that suit is on hold until the criminal case is resolved.

The I-Team reached out to Dr. Mowlavi’s attorneys who are handling his civil and criminal cases, but they did not respond to the request for comment.

Former patients who have spoken to the I-Team said a primary reason they came forward is to protect others from experiencing their pain and suffering.

“At the end of the day, I don’t want this guy to hurt another person,” said Arken

There is also frustration among former patients.

The first medical board investigation noted on Mowlavi’s record involved the death of one of his patients in 2018. But that accusation wasn’t made pubic until August of 2021 and wasn’t resolved until October 2022 — more than four years later — with 10 years probation and a 90 day suspension of his license to practice.

Chalene Johnson doesn’t understand the board’s lack of transparency.

“If you’re not able to do your research by the governmental agencies that are supposedly established to protect your best interest, then who can we trust?” asked Johnson.

While Mowlavi’s medical license is currently restricted, he continues to consult with prospective patients. When we called last week to book a consultation, we were offered multiple dates to meet with Mowlavi.

Instead of Dr. Laguna, he now appears to be branding his business as SurgiSculpt, a name trademarked by an LLC registered in his wife’s name, using the address of Mowlavi’s original surgical center in Laguna Beach.

Dr. Mowlavi is expected in court September 25 for arraignment on the two felony criminal charges. A hearing is scheduled for March of next year on the latest accusation by the medical board.



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Dodgers lose to last-place Rockies 6-3, Shohei Ohtani steals 53rd base of season – NBC Los Angeles

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September 21, 2024

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Dodgers lose to last-place Rockies 6-3, Shohei Ohtani steals 53rd base of season – NBC Los Angeles


Ryan McMahon hit a tiebreaking homer in the fifth inning and the last-place Colorado Rockies regrouped after blowing a three-run lead to beat the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 on Saturday night.

The loss by the 92-win Dodgers assured that for the first time since 2014 no team in the major leagues will win 100 games, not including the 60-game, pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Dodgers’ division lead dropped to three games over second-place San Diego, which beat the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles managed just one hit after the fifth.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani stole his 53rd base in the ninth.

The newly crowned 50-50 king remained at 52 homers. He singled, walked, scored and struck out on his final giveaway night of the season. The first 40,000 fans in the sellout crowd of 52,267 received an Ohtani T-shirt. Earlier, his two bobblehead promotions snarled traffic and created long lines.

The Dodgers loaded the bases against Seth Halvorsen with two outs in the ninth. Ohtani singled and Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman walked before Max Muncy went down swinging. Halvorsen earned his first save.

McMahon homered on the first pitch by Walker Buehler (1-6), giving the Rockies third baseman his fifth consecutive 20-homer season.

Four of the Rockies’ six runs came on two-out, two-strike hits, including Charlie Blackmon’s two-run homer in the ninth off Daniel Hudson.

Fans booed Rockies reliever Luis Peralta (5-3) for hitting Ohtani on his right elbow with a pitch in the sixth. Ohtani isn’t pitching this season as he rehabilitates from the elbow surgery he had in September 2023.

Colorado led 3-0 on Michael Toglia’s fielder’s choice grounder to Buehler in the first. Buehler’s throw to the plate was too high, allowing Blackmon to score after he doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Ezequiel Tovar doubled down the left-field line for two runs with two outs in the second.

The Dodgers pulled to 3-2 on Mookie Betts’ two-run homer in the third that scored Ohtani, who walked. They tied it at 3 on Hunter Feduccia’s RBI single with two outs in the fourth.

Buehler gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, struck out a season-high nine and walked one.

Rockies starter Cal Quantrill allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked four.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: CF Brenton Doyle (left knee tendinitis) was scratched for the second straight day.

Dodgers: LHP Anthony Banda (broken left hand) could return as soon as he’s eligible, which is Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 6.00 ERA) makes his second start Sunday since returning from a 16-month rehab after Tommy John surgery.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.63) makes his third start since coming off the injured list.





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Dodgers lose to last-place Rockies 6-3, Shohei Ohtani steals 53rd base of season – NBC Los Angeles

Published

24 hours ago

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September 21, 2024

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Dodgers lose to last-place Rockies 6-3, Shohei Ohtani steals 53rd base of season – NBC Los Angeles


Ryan McMahon hit a tiebreaking homer in the fifth inning and the last-place Colorado Rockies regrouped after blowing a three-run lead to beat the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 on Saturday night.

The loss by the 92-win Dodgers assured that for the first time since 2014 no team in the major leagues will win 100 games, not including the 60-game, pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Dodgers’ division lead dropped to three games over second-place San Diego, which beat the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles managed just one hit after the fifth.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani stole his 53rd base in the ninth.

The newly crowned 50-50 king remained at 52 homers. He singled, walked, scored and struck out on his final giveaway night of the season. The first 40,000 fans in the sellout crowd of 52,267 received an Ohtani T-shirt. Earlier, his two bobblehead promotions snarled traffic and created long lines.

The Dodgers loaded the bases against Seth Halvorsen with two outs in the ninth. Ohtani singled and Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman walked before Max Muncy went down swinging. Halvorsen earned his first save.

McMahon homered on the first pitch by Walker Buehler (1-6), giving the Rockies third baseman his fifth consecutive 20-homer season.

Four of the Rockies’ six runs came on two-out, two-strike hits, including Charlie Blackmon’s two-run homer in the ninth off Daniel Hudson.

Fans booed Rockies reliever Luis Peralta (5-3) for hitting Ohtani on his right elbow with a pitch in the sixth. Ohtani isn’t pitching this season as he rehabilitates from the elbow surgery he had in September 2023.

Colorado led 3-0 on Michael Toglia’s fielder’s choice grounder to Buehler in the first. Buehler’s throw to the plate was too high, allowing Blackmon to score after he doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Ezequiel Tovar doubled down the left-field line for two runs with two outs in the second.

The Dodgers pulled to 3-2 on Mookie Betts’ two-run homer in the third that scored Ohtani, who walked. They tied it at 3 on Hunter Feduccia’s RBI single with two outs in the fourth.

Buehler gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, struck out a season-high nine and walked one.

Rockies starter Cal Quantrill allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked four.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: CF Brenton Doyle (left knee tendinitis) was scratched for the second straight day.

Dodgers: LHP Anthony Banda (broken left hand) could return as soon as he’s eligible, which is Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 6.00 ERA) makes his second start Sunday since returning from a 16-month rehab after Tommy John surgery.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.63) makes his third start since coming off the injured list.





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No. 11 USC Trojans fall to No. 18 Michigan 27-24 in first Big 10 conference game – NBC Los Angeles

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September 21, 2024

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No. 11 USC Trojans fall to No. 18 Michigan 27-24 in first Big 10 conference game – NBC Los Angeles


Kalel Mullings surged 2 yards for a touchdown run on fourth down with 37 seconds left, lifting No. 18 Michigan to a 27-24 win over No. 11 Southern California on Saturday, welcoming the Trojans to the Big Ten with a heavy dose of smashmouth football.

The Wolverines (3-1, 1-0) overcame losing a 14-0 lead in the first half and coughing up two fumbles in the second half. They won with a 10-play, 89-yard TD drive, with Mullings doing most of the work.

He capped it with his second touchdown of the game, this one running behind a fullback in a jumbo package that left little doubt where the ball was going.

The Trojans (2-1, 0-1) went ahead 24-20 midway through the fourth when Miller Moss threw his third touchdown pass, a 24-yarder to Ja’Kobi Lane.

USC’s last chance ended with a fourth-down throw coming up short of the line to gain near midfield.

Mullings had a career-high 159 yards rushing, including a 53-yard scoring run to put the Wolverines ahead early, and Donovan Edwards had a 41-yard run to give them a two-touchdown lead.

Moss was 28 of 51 for 283 yards with a season-high three touchdowns and a costly interception.

USC’s Woody Marks ran for 100 yards on 13 carries, and ripped the football out of defensive tackle Kenneth Grant’s hand after he recovered the big defensive tackle had recovered a fumble for Michigan.

Moss bounced back from throwing a pick-6 to Will Johnson that gave the defending national champions a double-digit lead in third quarter with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jay Fair later in the quarter and his third touchdown pass to Lane with 7:01 left in the fourth.

Michigan needed a touchdown, trailing by four, in the final minute to win because USC defensive tackle Gavin Meyer blocked the extra point after Johnson’s interception return for a touchdown.

It also needed the clutch score because Edwards fumbled to set up a Trojans touchdown, Grant’s fumble helped the Big Ten newcomers score — and Michigan didn’t have a passing threat.

Alex Orji made his first start at quarterback and was 7 of 12 for 32 yards and ran 13 times for 43 yards.

The takeaway

USC’s revamped defense under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn held up well in the second half against an opponent that couldn’t pass. And then broke on Mullings’ long, tackle-breaking run and couldn’t complete the goal-line stand.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore earned his first signature win as Jim Harbaugh’s successor, making enough moves that panned out in what was potentially a pivotal game in his first season.

BANGED UP

USC receiver Makai Lemon left the in the first quarter after taking a hit while covering a punt. Trojans tight end Lake McRee was hit hard on his left knee, taking another target off the field for Moss.

Johnson left the field in the second half with an apparent injury.

Poll implications

Michigan may move up for the first time this season in the AP Top 25 and will extend a 51-straight week run of being ranked since early in the 2021 season and USC might slip a little in the poll.

Up next

USC hosts Wisconsin on Saturday.

Michigan hosts Minnesota on Saturday.





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