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Family sues Sono Bello, doctor after liposuction allegedly leaves mother brain-damaged
The lawsuit, filed in San Antonio, alleges that Junis Maldonado suffered a medical emergency during a May 14 TriSculpt liposuction procedure at a Sono Bello clinic. Her family claims she experienced seizures and cardiopulmonary arrest after her blood pressure dropped dramatically, leaving her with a devastating lack-of-oxygen brain injury.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
A Medical Emergency During Surgery
According to the family's lawsuit, Maldonado received several medications before and during the procedure, including drugs that could lower blood pressure.
The complaint alleges that her blood pressure fell to dangerously low levels during the procedure while she continued receiving a solution containing the local anesthetic lidocaine. Attorneys for the family allege she ultimately received approximately 3,750 milligrams of lidocaine before suffering seizures and cardiac arrest.
She required resuscitation and was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment, according to the lawsuit.
Severe Brain Injury
Maldonado's family says the loss of oxygen caused a hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, leaving her with profound neurological and physical disabilities.
According to reporting on the lawsuit, she now requires a tracheostomy and feeding tube and is undergoing rehabilitation. Her family is facing ongoing medical care while hoping for improvements in her condition.
The lawsuit seeks damages related to her medical treatment, ongoing care and other losses.
Lawsuit Names Sono Bello and Surgeon
The lawsuit names Sono Bello and Dr. Dare Ajibade, the physician who performed the procedure.
The family's attorneys accuse the doctor and the company of medical negligence and argue that additional monitoring and safeguards should have been in place as Maldonado's condition deteriorated.
A representative for the clinic and doctor previously told ABC13 that they could not comment on pending litigation but said patient safety was their highest priority.
Neither Sono Bello nor Ajibade has been found liable in Maldonado's case.
Doctor Has Faced Other Complaints
The lawsuit also comes amid separate legal and regulatory scrutiny involving Ajibade.
Public records and previous reporting show that he has faced other malpractice litigation involving cosmetic procedures. The cases involve separate patients and allegations, and they do not establish that Ajibade was negligent in Maldonado's treatment.
Texas Medical Board records also show regulatory action involving Ajibade, including a remedial plan approved in 2025 and a later agreed order involving standard-of-care issues. Those matters are separate from the current lawsuit.
A Family Looking for Accountability
For Maldonado's loved ones, the lawsuit is about more than compensation.
They say a procedure intended to change her appearance instead left a young mother facing a completely different life — one now shaped by serious neurological injuries, rehabilitation and long-term medical care.
The family is seeking accountability from the company and doctor while continuing to care for Maldonado and hope for her recovery.
The lawsuit remains unresolved, and the allegations against Sono Bello and Ajibade have not been established in court.
Source: News 4 San Antonio
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