Breast Surgeon Surrenders Virginia License After Malpractice Probe

Dr. Sasa Grae Espino permanently surrendered her Virginia medical license July 1, ending a Virginia Board of Medicine investigation into her treatment of two patients, WTVR reported.

The board accepted a consent order that concluded disciplinary proceedings involving patients Mandy Moore and Audrey Andrews. The order said Espino violated Virginia regulations governing medical practice in her care of both women. Under the agreement, Espino neither admitted nor denied the board’s findings. The action became public July 2.

Dozens of medical malpractice lawsuits have been filed against Espino since June 2025. Many allege she performed breast reconstruction procedures outside the scope of her training and failed to meet the accepted standard of care. Her attorneys have denied those claims.

The consent order included a statement from a plastic surgeon who later treated Andrews. The surgeon said the operation left her with a deformity and described it as “done so poorly it was not consistent with the standard of care.” A breast surgeon who evaluated Moore determined she did not receive appropriate follow-up care. That surgeon said the preventive double mastectomy Moore underwent would not have been recommended.

Moore and Andrews said they felt relief after the board’s decision. “We trusted someone that really messed us up, mentally and physically, absolutely,” Andrews told WTVR. Moore added, “I’m sorry it came to this, where a lot of us got hurt, scarred for life.”

Espino continues to hold an active medical license in Alabama. A spokesperson for the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners said Virginia’s disciplinary action will be documented. It does not automatically affect her ability to practice in Alabama. Her attorneys had not issued further public comment as of July 2.