‘I’m gob smacked’: Winnipeg woman left without care after plastic surgery clinic abruptly closes its doors

A Winnipeg woman is facing medical uncertainty after the abrupt closure of a plastic surgery clinic. Joseph Bernacki explains.

A Transcona woman is left with some big questions and no follow-up medical plan after a plastic surgery clinic closed its doors with little notice.

“Well, I’m gob smacked for one thing,” said Deirdre Demeule, a former patient at Ziesmann Cosmetics.

Demeule said she recently learned over a phone call late last week that the Winnipeg plastic surgeon’s clinic Ziesmann Cosmetics would be shutting its doors after physician Manfred Ziesmann was given an interim suspension on October 15. She said the receptionist told her that Ziesmann was retiring.

“They said, ‘No I’m afraid Dr. Ziesmann’s closing the office and he’s decided to retire,’” she said. “You just can’t up and leave your patients and say, ‘Okay I’m retiring,’ it can’t be,” Demeule said.

She paid for two rounds of Coolsculpting at the clinic – a procedure that removes fat from the body – and that price included all of the aftercare required.

“(They said) we can give you a deal, $12,000, but it has to be paid up front and full,” Demeule said.

It is unclear if Ziesmann has retired as social media pages for the clinic are still active but phone calls are going straight to voicemail.

Patients “will need to identify a new provider themselves”: CPSM

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) sent a statement saying the regulator is restricted to giving out information that is published on the college’s website.

In a statement to CTV News Winnipeg, Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, assistant registrar of complaints and investigations, said in part:

“In terms of what patients should do, if it is medically necessary referrals, they should contact their family doctor, who can help arrange transfer of care to a new provider. For non-insured cosmetic services, patients will need to identify a new provider themselves.”

Demeule said she is worried about the money she has spent, her patient records and her health.

“I’m not pleased,” Demeule said. “I hope something gets done, but you know, it’s the buyer beware.”

According to the college, a doctor in Manitoba has to give 90 days’ notice if they are leaving or closing a practice. However, because Dr. Ziesmann was suspended, he could no longer practise.

Ziesmann was first suspended in March for six weeks by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba after multiple complaints.

He was then given an interim suspension by the college on Oct. 15, to protect the public while proceedings were ongoing, according to the CPSM statement.