Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Ashkan Ghavami, says Lydia Carranza is a “lucky woman.”
She was expected to undergo reconstructive surgery Friday after waiting nearly seven months for her wounds to heal.
Carranza was shot in the chest when a co-worker’s husband allegedly stormed the “Family Dental Care” clinic and opened fire on July 1. Mariela Paredes, 24, who had filed for divorce from the gunman was killed, Carranza said.
Dr. Ghavami believes her breast implants stopped the bullet from hitting her heart. He says the bullet fragments were millimeters from her heart and her vital organs. If not for the implant, she might not be alive, Dr. Ghavami said.
Hospital workers were not comfortable saying Carranza’s implant saved her life. They believed it was more of a ballistics issue than a medical one.
Carranza says her right breast was scarred and her implant deflated. She tried using a silicone pad in her bra but it fell out at work, and she is embarrassed by her appearance.
Beverly Hills Physicians would perform the reconstructive surgery at a reduced cost. He was hoping implant companies would donate supplies.
“Lydia has seen several doctors. Many of them displayed an attitude of, ‘you should be grateful to be alive, who cares about an implant?’ My hope is Lydia will be able to move on from this trauma when her reflection shows someone she recognizes, and finds beautiful,” Dr. Ghavami said.
The suspected gunman, Jaime Paredes, is awaiting trial. He is being held without bail on numerous counts, including murder and premeditated attempted murder.
