The Texas Medical Board has suspended the licence of a plastic surgeon accused of performing major cosmetic procedures, including a tummy tuck and breast augmentation, while under the influence of alcohol.
Surgeon Accused of Operating While Intoxicated
According to a temporary suspension order filed by the board, Dr. Azul Shirazali Jaffer allegedly operated on a patient at his practice on 12 August 2023. The filing, obtained by the Daily Mail, states the 50-year-old surgeon was unsteady on his feet, made inappropriate remarks to his surgical technician, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.
The allegations extend beyond a single incident. Another physician and his staff have claimed that Jaffer 'routinely treats and operates on patients while intoxicated'. He is further accused of being drunk during a Botox procedure on 4 August and again during a tummy tuck surgery the following day, 5 August. The practice was reportedly forced to cancel procedures due to his impaired state.
Hidden Liquor and a Pattern of Behaviour
Staff at his clinic, Azul Plastic Surgery in Sugar Land, southwest of Houston, allege they discovered a liquor bottle hidden in a paper towel holder in the men's restroom on 9 July. During the incident on 5 August, Jaffer was allegedly seen 'stumbling to the men's restroom where the container of liquor was found'.
Jaffer was arrested on 22 December and charged with performing surgery while intoxicated, a felony offence. The medical board temporarily suspended his licence just eight days later, on 30 December. The panel cited an immediate threat to public welfare, and the suspension will remain until further action is taken.
Despite his arrest, Jaffer was released from jail two days later on a $5,000 bond with no initial restrictions on practising medicine, a detail noted by the board. As his criminal case is pending, he has been ordered to surrender his passport.
Civil Lawsuit and Professional Background
In a separate civil matter, Jaffer was sued last year by a patient who alleged he assaulted her in October 2022 while she was recovering from a breast augmentation at his clinic. The patient filed a police report, though court records show no criminal charges were filed in connection to this claim. An earlier lawsuit from 2022 was dismissed at the plaintiff's request; the more recent case remains pending.
Jaffer, whose website touts a five-star rating, has practised plastic surgery for over 22 years. He obtained his Texas medical licence in 2009 and previously held licences in Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. He and his wife, Smita, own two properties in Sugar Land, each valued at over $600,000. Jaffer is also listed as the manager of a real estate company incorporated in 2024.
The Daily Mail has approached Jaffer's attorney, Troy McKinney, for comment.
