Surgeon loses license due to malpractice probe.

Dr. Sasa Grae Espino, a breast surgeon, made the decision to permanently surrender her medical license in Virginia on July 1. This means she will no longer be able to practice medicine in the state, following an investigation by the Virginia Board of Medicine into her treatment of two former patients, as reported by WTVR.

The board accepted a consent order that concluded the disciplinary proceedings involving patients Mandy Moore and Audrey Andrews. This order stated that Espino had violated Virginia regulations for practicing medicine in her care of both women. However, in an agreement with the board, she neither admitted nor denied the findings.

The public was made aware of this action on July 2 when the board released the consent order. This disciplinary action comes after numerous medical malpractice lawsuits were filed against Espino since June 2025. In these lawsuits, it was alleged that Espino performed breast reconstruction procedures beyond her qualifications and did not meet the standard of medical care.

However, her attorneys have denied these claims, stating that her education, fellowship training, and surgical experience were sufficient qualifications for performing these procedures. According to the consent order, a plastic surgeon who later treated Audrey Andrews stated that the operation had resulted in a deformity and was not consistent with the standard of care. The order also mentioned that another breast surgeon who evaluated Mandy Moore found that Espino had failed to provide appropriate follow-up care and that the preventive double mastectomy that Moore underwent was not necessary.

After the board's decision, Moore and Andrews expressed their relief with the outcome. Andrews stated, "We trusted someone who really messed us up, mentally and physically, absolutely." Similarly, Moore said, "That was great news, I've been waiting for it for months." She also added, "I'm sorry it came to this, where a lot of us got hurt, scarred for life, multiple surgeries, something that is not going to go away." Andrews also commended the investigative reporting that brought attention to the complaints, saying, "If you hadn't started airing these stories, it never would have happened." Andrews further stated, "I am just glad we put a stop to it, and she can't do it in Virginia anymore. Amen." However, Espino still holds an active medical license in Alabama, according to a spokesperson for the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners.

They stated that Virginia's disciplinary action would be documented, but it does not automatically impact her ability to practice in Alabama. As of July 2, Espino's attorneys had not issued any further public statements. The Virginia Board of Medicine is responsible for licensing and disciplining physicians in the state.

All public disciplinary actions, including consent orders, are published as part of the board's official records. In related news, Dr. Sasa Grae Espino made history as the first Black plastic surgeon to be formally fellowship-trained in transgender surgery.

However, this recent disciplinary action has caused concern among her former patients and the medical community.