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The owner of the spa appears to not be a licensed medical professional but instead is a licensed aesthetician with a nursing assistant certificate.
State public health officials are now reporting 14 cases of botulism connected to Botox injection procedures performed at a Milton spa that is under investigation, up from four cases last week.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) first reported the growing cluster of cases last Friday, announcing that the cases were tied to cosmetic botulinum toxin, also known as Botox, injections on the South Shore.
DPH then announced ten confirmed cases associated with procedures performed at Rodrigo Beauty, which is located on Granite Avenue in Milton. A spokesperson for the department confirmed Tuesday that 14 reported cases are under investigation, but declined to comment further.
The cases are suspected to be iatrogenic botulism, a rare but serious illness that could be life-threatening, health officials said. Botox is regularly used for cosmetic reasons, such as to change the look of wrinkles, and sometimes for medical reasons like treating migraines. Iatrogenic botulism “can happen if too much botulinum toxin is injected,” according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Anyone who received Botox injections at Rodrigo Beauty between May 1 and June 4 this year should contact DPH at 617-983-6800 or their local board of health immediately, even if they are not currently experiencing symptoms, state officials said.
The spa is owned by Rodrigo de Medeiros Siqueira, according to state records. The business’ website appears to have been taken down. According to a state database, de Medeiros Siqueira has an aesthetician license through 2026.
In Massachusetts, medical spa procedures, including Botox, have to be administered by a health care professional, or under the supervision or direction of one. Aestheticians are not medical professionals.
According to de Medeiros Siqueira’s LinkedIn, he previously completed a non-credit training course at Quincy College to be a certified nursing assistant, which is not a medical degree.
He regularly performs hair removal treatments, skincare treatments, brow and lash tinting, chemical peels, and “anti-aging treatments,” de Medeiros Siqueira wrote on LinkedIn. Botox was not explicitly listed. His booking site also appears to have been taken down.
A Google search shows that there is also a Rodrigo Beauty in Braintree, which is permanently closed, but it’s unclear whether the two businesses are the same. An Instagram account, which has been deleted, listed the Milton address and the phone number associated with the Braintree business. A call to the number went to voicemail, and an email bounced back.
Spas that administer Botox or chemical peels, among other services, are medical spas and need to be licensed as clinics, according to DPH. A search of online licensed clinics and healthcare facility records did not show Rodrigo Beauty. DPH didn’t return a request to confirm whether Rodrigo Beauty is a unlicense medical spa.
DPH urged any of Rodrigo Beauty’s customers to seek medical attention as soon as possible, noting that early recognition and treatment can significantly improve outcomes. Symptoms include blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing.
“DPH continues to emphasize the importance of seeking cosmetic procedures only from licensed professionals in accredited medical settings,” the department’s release said.
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