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A plastic surgeon accused of causing a woman’s death was arrested - during surgery to extend his penis.

Carlos Gustavo Arzuza, 48, was arrested in a private clinic in the city of Mendoza, in the western Argentine province of the same name.

It was in the same clinic that Arzuza is said to have performed liposuction and a bottom implant on Beatriz Gattari, 49.

Gattari died shortly afterwards, reportedly of organ failure.

After an autopsy on the woman, prosecutor Claudia Rios told police to arrest Arzuza.

Officers were shocked to discover Arzuza in the middle of undergoing penis-enlargement surgery when they went to the clinic where he worked.

(Image: CEN) (Image: CEN)

After being arrested, Arzuza was transferred to a hospital in Mendoza. It is not clear what stage his operation was at when police arrived or whether police allowed the operation to finish before actually detaining him.

His assistant Laura Dutta, a 39-year-old Romanian, was also arrested and the clinic was closed.

Both suspects are accused of “simple homicide.”

(Image: CEN)

Rios added that the private clinic was not registered and did not meet hygiene standards.

Surgical tools were seized by police, who are also investigating whether illegal abortions were carried out there.

Arzuza was also investigated in 2013, along with colleague and friend Carlos Gassibe, for “simple homicide” following the death of businessman Roberto del Barco, 45.

(Image: CEN)

Del Barco underwent abdomen liposuction in July of that year but it was alleged that he did not receive proper anaesthesia for the operation.

After being badly anaesthetised, it was alleged, Del Barco suffered cardio-respiratory failure and died.

Arzuza was arrested but released on bail and the case has not yet gone to court.