Woman Sues Plastic Surgeon Over Labeling Surgery Photos 'Cocaine Nose'

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 31, 2014 7:30PM

A Chicago woman is suing her plastic surgeon for posting photos of her pre- and post-op nose on the surgeon’s website 10 years ago, as an example of an affliction called “cocaine nose.”

Sabrina Kropp, 55, filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court Tuesday against Dr. Robert Walton after Walton posted them to a website promoting his new practice, Plastic Surgery Chicago LLC, last year. Kropp claims in the suit the images, which are close-ups of her nose with her eyes redacted, were published without her permission. Furthermore, labeling them as examples of “cocaine nose” led to Kropp suffering “great harm,” and that Walton should have known better.

“Cocaine nose” is described on Walton’s website as “sores in the nasal lining and septum that can lead to perforations of the septum, infection, loss of supporting cartilage, scarring and eventual collapse of the nose” resulting from chronic cocaine use.

“Reconstruction of the cocaine injured nose can be very challenging as the nasal tissues can be permanently injured,” the description continues.

Other defendants in the lawsuit include the University of Chicago Medical Center, where Walton was employed until 2007, and the California company that helped design and launch Walton’s website. Kropp seeks compensation for damages.

Here are the before photos as they appeared on the website. (Via The Smoking Gun)