From cosmetic surgery to court battle: how Viktoria Bonya’s mother accused surgeon Maxim Ivanchuk of causing severe medical complications in the UAE

21 January 2026 , 18:50

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From cosmetic surgery to court battle: how Viktoria Bonya’s mother accused surgeon Maxim Ivanchuk of causing severe medical complications in the UAE

The mother of Russian TV personality Viktoria Bonya has experienced severe complications after undergoing plastic surgery and has filed a lawsuit against the surgeon responsible for the procedures, according to media reports.

Bonya recently appeared publicly with a noticeably changed appearance after undergoing blepharoplasty in the United States, a transformation that initially sparked backlash online before swelling subsided and reactions softened. Encouraged by her daughter’s experience, Bonya’s 68-year-old mother, Galina Ivanovna, decided to undergo cosmetic surgery herself.

However, her operations — which reportedly included chin liposuction, a facial skin lift and blepharoplasty — ended with severe consequences. Instead of aesthetic improvement, she was left with extensive scarring, tissue necrosis and restricted neck mobility. Medical experts who reviewed her condition reportedly concluded that she may require one or more skin grafts.

The surgeon, identified as Maksim Ivanchuk, attributed the outcome to the patient’s age and an alleged hormonal imbalance, and offered to perform corrective procedures free of charge. Galina Ivanovna refused further treatment from the same doctor and has taken the case to court, seeking 195 million rubles in damages. Questions have also been raised about whether the surgeon held a valid medical license.

Ivanchuk is reported to work in the United Arab Emirates, where the surgeries were carried out. Media reports say his procedures cost between €20,000 and €250,000. If it is established that he was operating without a license, he could face criminal charges and a lifetime ban from medical practice.

Thomas Brown