A professional barber practicing cosmetic surgery without a degree. That’s how investigators described Eduardo David Ramos, the main suspect in the death of Yulixa Consuelo Toloza, the 52-year-old woman whose body was found in Apulo, Cundinamarca, after undergoing laser liposuction at a clandestine clinic in southern Bogotá.
Following his recent arrest in Maracay, Venezuela, along with the other two suspects in the case, the face of the man accused of leading a fatal surgical procedure, without any training and under a facade of complete illegality, has been revealed.
The Prosecutor’s Office stated that “the two men and one woman will remain in custody while the legal procedures for their extradition to Colombia are completed.” The operation took place in the Quebrada de la Virgen parish, Guanare municipality, in Portuguesa state.
The profile of the “barber-surgeon”: ketamine and overdose in the clandestine operating room
Ramos’s background was far removed from the operating room. According to Red+ Noticias, the suspect worked as a stylist and professional barber and lacked any accredited training in the health field. Despite this, he assumed the role of lead surgeon at the establishment called Beauty Láser.
After Toloza’s death, Ramos fled the country, triggering an international search. Now, judicial authorities directly link him to the crimes of homicide, forced disappearance, and failure to provide assistance, due to the conditions under which the procedure was performed and the subsequent removal of the victim’s body from Bogotá.
Ramos’s role on the night of the surgery came under scrutiny after the chemical components used were revealed. The investigation pointed to the improper use of ketamine, a controlled anesthetic that requires constant monitoring of vital signs due to the risk of respiratory and cardiac complications.
According to a statement given to authorities by Estefanía López, a close friend of the victim, the staff at the facility decided to administer a second dose of the drug because Toloza “was very physically distressed” after the procedure, reporting severe pain and complications.
In addition to the alleged anesthetic overdose, the procedure led by the fake doctor exceeded the limits of clinical safety. Testimonies in the possession of the Attorney General’s Office indicated that approximately 10 liters of fat were extracted from Yulixa Toloza.
Experts consulted by national media explained that this type of procedure should not exceed “five or six liters per session,” since a larger volume drastically increases the risk of hypovolemic shock and organ failure. The combination of ketamine, the excessive extraction, and the lack of emergency equipment triggered the patient’s collapse.
