San Diego Plastic Surgeon Pulled From Operating Room After Positive Alcohol Tests

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Abhay Gupta has been ordered to stop practicing after state and local reporting say he tested positive for alcohol while on probation. The directive has temporarily shut down operations at his Gupta Plastic Surgery clinics in San Diego and Encinitas, putting surgeries, injectables and laser treatments on hold while regulators decide what comes next. The move has patients and neighbors quietly wondering how many people may have been treated while he was allegedly impaired.

According to New York Post coverage of court and enforcement records, Gupta failed biological fluid tests three times earlier this year. The outlet reports the positive results came within about a 10‑day span while he was still on board‑ordered probation. Regulators then moved to bar him from practice after the latest results surfaced in the middle of an already pending disciplinary case, the Post noted.

Medical board record

Public newsletters from the Medical Board of California detail a long‑running disciplinary history for Gupta, including a Decision and Order in March 2022 that followed a misdemeanor DUI conviction. That decision imposed a stayed license revocation and five years of probation. The 2022 documents also required him to abstain from alcohol and undergo biological fluid testing, according to the Medical Board of California.

Where he practiced

Gupta operates Gupta Plastic Surgery, with offices listed in San Diego and Encinitas, and the clinic’s website states that Dr. Gupta personally performs surgeries, injectables and laser procedures. The practice pages include office addresses and appointment phone numbers, details that suddenly took on new weight once the board’s enforcement action became public. Those listings appear on the practice site at Gupta Plastic Surgery.

Community reaction

Local reporters, patients and advocacy groups are pressing for answers about what happened and who was affected. The New York Post highlighted a pointed on‑scene question from ABC10 reporter Michele Monserratt‑Ramos: “How many patients have been impacted by this? We’ll never know.” The line captured growing anxiety about whether past patients will be notified and how any needed follow‑up care might be handled.

Legal and patient‑safety implications

Board notices outline the kinds of monitoring and restrictions that can follow failed biological tests, including mandatory testing, treatment requirements, practice limits and, in some cases, surrender of controlled‑substance registrations. The board’s 2025 enforcement newsletter added consecutive probationary time for Gupta and imposed terms, including continued biological fluid testing and practice restrictions, according to the Medical Board of California.

Patients who have undergone procedures with Gupta can check their provider status with the Medical Board and may want to speak with their primary care physician about any health concerns related to prior care. Gupta Plastic Surgery did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This story will be updated if the practice or regulators release additional information.