A 12-year old girl who had reached a weight of 344 lbs. was in Santo Domingo for bariatric surgery. Diario Libre reported she is the daughter of two Dominicans who live in New York City. Her mother, Ivette Susana says that the operation took place at a private clinic and the head surgeon was Dr. Gustavo Rodriguez Blanco. She is the first minor to undergo this type of surgery in the DR, as reported in Diario Libre. Reportedly, an orthopedic surgeon and a psychologist in the US said that the patient was at risk of suffering serious leg damage due to her excess weight. Her right leg had already arched. She received a gastric band.