A plastic surgeon to the stars may have been shot dead by a hitman hired by relatives of a patient who died under the knife, police believe. Alexander Aslani, 57, was gunned down at his clinic in Marbella on Spain’s Costa del Sol on Thursday night. A Swedish man, 18, has been arrested on suspicion of his murder.
Masked gunman storms clinic
A masked assassin burst into the Cirumed Clinic – which Aslani founded and ran – and shot him several times in the head in front of terrified customers before fleeing on a getaway motorcycle. Local news reports suggested the murder of the married father of two – described as “the plastic surgeon of choice for celebrities, models and royalty” – may be linked to the death of a rich South American patient.
A police spokesman said the shooting happened at 6pm on October 7. “The victim, a 57-year-old man, sustained several gunshot wounds to the head,” they said. “The medical personnel who treated him were unable to stabilise him and he died. The investigation is ongoing.”
Career and charity work
Aslani, who had 200,000 followers on Instagram, worked as a consultant plastic surgeon at London Highgate Hospital between 2007 and 2009. Before that he performed the same role at Dolan Park Hospital in Bromsgrove. His father Amir was one of the pioneers of modern mastectomy in Germany in the ‘70s.
As a member of Interplast, which offers free surgery to people in developing communities, Aslani led an annual mission to Calcutta, India, operating on underprivileged children with cleft lips. His wife Jeannine, described as director of nursing at his clinic, is believed to have been at a treatment centre next door when he was killed.
Tributes and arrest
The killer fled on a Yamaha maxi-scooter parked outside with an accomplice driving a black Audi. A spokesman for Age Concern Estepona said: “We are heartbroken - a wonderful man was murdered tonight at his clinic. Our thoughts are with his incredible wife and their two children. They have helped us enormously with food for homeless people. They are incredible people. Heartbroken for this incredible family who helped Age Concern Estepona so much through very difficult times including Covid.”
Friend and patient Nance Lala Van der Veken wrote on social media: “I’m absolutely devastated. You didn’t just change my body - you helped shape a part of my life. You were truly one of the best plastic surgeons but to me you were so much more than my doctor. You were my friend, someone I trusted completely, and someone whose work I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It was an honour to have known you and to carry your incredible work with me. Your talent, kindness, and memory will always remain a part of me. You will never be forgotten.”
Fellow plastic surgeon Dr Adel Quttainah described Aslani, who had performed 14,000 operations, as “an exceptional doctor and a kind soul”. Patients from over 40 countries travelled to Marbella to be treated by him. Treatments included Brazilian butt lifts, liposuctions and breast augmentations.
The 18-year-old Swedish man was arrested 24 hours after the shooting. A police spokesman said: “A man aged 18 has just been arrested as the suspected author of the homicide committed yesterday evening in Marbella. No further details will be provided at this time.”
