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Famous plastic surgeon Dr. Miami, whose real name is Michael Salzhauer, addressed public accusations from a former employee regarding unfair compensation and workplace treatment.
The controversy began when Santina Rizzi, a former member of his social media team, posted several viral TikTok videos.
She claimed the doctor undervalued her contributions despite her success in boosting his online engagement and follower count.
In an exclusive statement to TMZ on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Dr. Miami expressed sadness over Rizzi's experience but defended his business practices.
He emphasized that he viewed her more like a daughter than an employee, noting that she often joined his family for dinners and international travel.
He stated that while he does not want to invalidate her feelings, he believes his team remains happy and well-paid.
Beyond financial disagreements, Rizzi alleged that Dr. Miami suggested she needed liposuction on her arms and performed the surgery himself.
She claimed that shortly after the procedure, he sent her on a work trip where she suffered significant pain and required medical attention from another doctor to drain her arms.
She described the experience as physically and emotionally taxing.
Dr. Miami offered a different perspective on the medical claims, asserting that he only performs surgeries to address existing insecurities rather than creating new ones.
He maintained that the surgery went beautifully and denied ever putting her at risk.
While he acknowledged that another office handled a follow-up procedure for her arms, he stated he did not remember the specific details of that incident.
