10-07-2025
Florida woman's decision to get Botox in grubby garden shed ends in DISFIGUREMENT
A Florida woman was left with facial paralysis after receiving Botox injections at an illegal spa operating out of a backyard shed, according to police.
In May, an unidentified woman contacted the Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) with concerns about a medical treatment she had recently received from a woman named Rosa Mena, who was allegedly running a covert spa out of a backyard shed, according to a statement posted by the department on Facebook.
The victim claimed the procedure left her with lasting facial paralysis - raising alarming suspicions that the makeshift med salon was operating without a license.
A multi-agency investigation into the woman's claims uncovered an 'overwhelming amount of evidence,' ultimately leading to the arrest of 50-year-old Rosa Mena on Thursday.
'We want to remind the public to research the facility and individual prior to performing procedures,' the department wrote to the post.
'In order to perform injectable procedures like Botox, it needs to be performed by a licensed professional.'
On May 17, encouraged by coworkers' recommendations, the victim visited Rosa's Miracle Hand and Spa, hoping for Botox injections, CBS 12 News reported.
The woman was then led by Mena into an outdoor shed, allegedly outfitted to resemble a legitimate medical spa - complete with injectable supplies and a CoolSculpting machine visible inside.
After receiving a staggering 62 units of Botox, the victim paid Mena $325 and left - unaware that those injections could potentially alter the course of her life forever.
While the number of units needed varies by individual, professionals typically recommend 15 to 30 units for horizontal forehead lines and up to 40 units for '11 lines' - or glabellar lines - between the eyes, according to Healthline.
According to the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, the average cost per unit of Botox ranges from $10 to $30. A typical treatment involves 20 to 40 units, which translates to a total cost between $325 and $600.
Soon after the bizarre backyard session, the woman began suffering partial facial paralysis. Worried, she returned to Mena's spa seeking a follow-up treatment.
During the follow-up visit, Mena injected the woman with a B-vitamin complex before sending her on her way - but the woman's symptoms only worsened, according to the department's statement.
By this point, the alleged victim had no choice but to confront Mena, who quickly refunded her hundreds of dollars and urged her to come back for more vitamin injections - claiming they would 'reverse' the damage.
As her symptoms only persisted with no relief, she demanded Mena's credentials and proof of qualifications to perform such a risky procedure.
Mena never provided any legitimate records, and instead presented a clearly forged phlebotomy certificate, according to the police department.
Alarmed by the suspicious credentials, the victim contacted the issuing agency - and soon discovered the license had expired in February 2024.
When confronted with the expired license, Mena brushed off the woman's concerns, insisting instead that she was a doctor in the Dominican Republic.
Ultimately, the victim contacted the Port St. Lucie Police Department, triggering a months-long investigation that brought together multiple agencies - PSLPD, Code Enforcement, the Building Department, Business Tax Division and the Florida Department of Health.
On July 9, authorities executed a search warrant at Mena's residence, uncovering a trove of evidence that corroborated the victim's claims, according to police.
Neighbors described as a chaotic scene - with several police cars swarming the area and loudspeaker announcements blaring in both English and Spanish, CBS 12 reported.
Once inside, authorities discovered medical beds, fat-sculpting machines, laser hair removal and liposuction equipment, as well as injection devices used for both fillers and Botox.
The residence also contained needles, vials, and prescription medications - further evidence of unlicensed medical procedures taking place inside, the department said.
Mena's Instagram account was also uncovered, which was filled with photos of her performing various procedures on other individuals - though, so far, no additional victims have come forward, according to police.
With clear evidence of unlicensed and unregulated medical treatments being performed out of the backyard shed, Mena was taken into custody.
'There was probably like 10, 15 police cars and some wagon - I didn't know what that was for,' neighbor John Jones told the CBS 12, recalling the scene.
'Then all of a sudden, I see a girl come out in handcuffs,' he added.
Mena is now facing several felony charges, including three counts of aggravated battery causing bodily harm, three counts of practicing medicine without an active license and one count of fraud-swindle involving property valued under $20,000.
She is also charged with one count of fraud-swindle involving property valued at $300 and one count of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
On Thursday morning, Mena appeared in court and was held on a $95,000 bond, according to WPTV News.
She is currently being held at the St. Lucie County Jail.
