Reality TV Surgeon Sued in Real Life

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Dr. Paul Nassif, a plastic surgeon who stars in the reality TV show "Botched," did just that to a patient's nose, then lied about it, the man claims in court.

Eric Klein sued Nassif, two other doctors and three medical businesses on Wednesday in Superior Court.

Klein says Nassif performed a rhinoplasty and septoplasty to correct a deviated septum and improve his breathing on Nov. 17, 2014. The next day, Klein says, he reported that he was "feeling some pulling in his right eye."

Nassif told him a splint on his nose likely was causing the problem, and that it should go away when the splint was removed, but it didn't, Klein says.

When Nassif removed the splint a week later, Klein says, he complained that he could not close his right eye properly and it hurt. This time, he says, he was told that swelling around his nose likely caused the problem, and it should go away when the swelling subsided.

Klein says he continued to suffer pain and discomfort in his right eye and could not close it or blink properly, but the defendants continued to reassure him that all was well. They referred him to several of Nassif's colleagues, including an eye doctor, who assured him the surgery went fine and suggested his problem arose from a pre-existing condition caused by a past eye trauma, according to the complaint.

In January 2015, Klein says, he learned that Nassif had displaced his medial canthal tendon when breaking his nasal bone during surgery, but instead of admitting it, he tried to cover up his error.

"Nassif and each of them deliberately covered up the issues related to the surgery by referring plaintiff to Dr. Nassif's friends, who were informed and requested to tell plaintiff that the problems he was experiencing were not related to the surgery but from a prior trauma in an effort to protect Dr. Nassif's reputation," according to the complaint.

Klein says he continues to suffer pain and suffered an injury that affects his appearance, prevents him from working, requires additional plastic surgery and likely will be a permanent disability.

He seeks damages for medical negligence.

Nassif specializes in facial plastic surgery and practices at Spalding Drive Plastic Surgery and the Beverly Hills Doctors Surgery Center, both of which are named as defendants, as is the Spaldling Drive Medical Partnership.

Also named as defendants are Drs. Grace Lee Peng and Donald B. Yoo.

Nassif is one of two plastic surgeons featured on the E! Entertainment channel's "Botched" TV series, in which Nassif and another plastic surgeon correct prior bad surgical procedures.

The television show first aired in 2014 and has run for three seasons.

Los Angeles attorney Michael Alder filed the complaint on Klein's behalf Wednesday and was not available by telephone Thursday evening.

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