Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

12 октября 2025 г.

Olga Filimonova

Three patient deaths have occurred consecutively at the Moscow-region clinic "Soleil Esthetic."

Despite this, the plastic surgery center continues its operations, albeit under new ownership and with a modified brand name.

The main figures behind "Soleil Esthetic" (formerly "Soleil Clinic") in Podolsk are plastic surgeons Sergey Demin and Maksim Khlystalov. Notably, Dr. Demin previously worked at the scandal-plagued Moscow clinic "Triumph Palace," which also experienced patient fatalities. According to his dossier, he has served as the lead plastic surgeon at "Soleil Clinic" since 2016, although the clinic officially appears to have been established only in 2019.

And plastic surgeon Maksim Khlystalov made his mark by being the director and founder of "Soleil Clinic" until 2020, after which he handed over the "reins" to a certain Sergey Pivkin.

The number of negative reviews about the operation of this plastic surgery clinic on 13A Podolsk Kursantov Street is astounding.

But the company of Nikanor continues to operate!

Death in the recovery room

Currently, more than 500 plastic surgery clinics operate in Russia. All these clinics boastfully promise to make the faces and bodies of their patients both prettier and younger. However, the number of victims of plastic surgeons has significantly increased recently.

But what is surprising? 

Criminal cases have been initiated. The names of the culprits are known, yet the clinic (or rather, clinics) continues to operate: cutting into the living.  

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

In the plastic surgery clinic

An incident at the "Soleil Esthetic" plastic surgery clinic occurred on July 3, 2025. 

A 47-year-old Muscovite, a designer by profession, a mother of two children – 17 and 11 years old – decided to undergo a breast lift surgery at "Soleil Esthetic". 

Apparently, the cost of the procedure played a significant role: it is understood that prices in the Moscow region are significantly lower than in beauty institutes in the capital. Enthusiastic reviews about the work of plastic surgeons like Sergey Demin and Maksim Khlystalov also played their part.  

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Plastic surgeon Sergey Demin

Yet, these enthusiastic reviews seem to be written like carbon copies. 

The Muscovite N. visited "Soleil Esthetic" more than just once or twice to submit all tests; no contraindications for the surgery or allergic reactions were found in N. 

The surgery was scheduled for July 3.

N. sent her husband and 11-year-old daughter to Vietnam before the surgery to recover in peace afterward.

By 7 AM, the patient was already at "Soleil Esthetic": the procedure began at noon and lasted for over two and a half hours.

Subsequently, the patient was transferred to the recovery room.

Shortly after, N. regained consciousness but only briefly.

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Maksim Khlystalov, plastic surgeon 

She managed to complain about acute heart pain before immediately losing consciousness again. 

The staff at "Soleil Esthetic" attempted to resuscitate the patient for a long time. Ultimately, however, she passed away.

Investigations revealed that the deceased had no heart diseases, she also denied any allergy to medical drugs; thus, two versions of the event were considered. 

According to the first version, N. might have died from an allergic reaction to a combination of a companion drug (antibiotic) with an anesthetic. 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

In the "Soleil Esthetic" clinic

The second version suggests that death might have been caused by "physical damage to organ tissues due to medical negligence". However, the true cause will be established through a forensic medical examination. 

The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case, questioning clinic staff and seizing all medical documentation. All circumstances and reasons for the incident are being determined. 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Roszdravnadzor also joined the investigation: the staff is finding out the reasons for the patient’s death at "Soleil Esthetic".

The Podolsk City Prosecutor’s Office has taken control of the determination of the circumstances of N.’s death, as well as the course and results of the criminal investigation.  

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Yet "Soleil Esthetic" continues to operate, actively advertising its bustling activities. 

Pivkin both reaper and pipe player

Thus, until October 2020, the Podolsk clinic was run by surgeon Maksim Khlystalov, who owns several rather shady companies. 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Specifically, he owned two other companies that were involved in 14 arbitration cases: revenue ‒ ZERO, profit also ‒ complete ZERO. 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Mr. Khlystalov ‒ General Director of LLC "Venera Pharm". 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

And has been running this company since October 2020. He is also the founder with a 100% stake.  

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Furthermore, LLC "Venera Pharm" has 6 arbitration cases filed against it totaling 69 million rubles. 

For a small town like Podolsk, that’s quite a lot. 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

What’s left is to speculate why Mr. Khlystalov stopped "carrying" the "Soleil Esthetic" clinic and transferred this business to Mr. Pivkin. 

Meanwhile, he became a primary figure at LLC "Venera Pharm". 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Why did these realignments occur? 

Tainted reviews

On the "Pro Doktorov, Podolsk" website, one could have read truthful reviews about the operation of the "Soleil Esthetic" clinic, but, unfortunately, these reviews have been annulled.

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

prodoctorov.ru

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

prodoctorov.ru

Furthermore, the reviews span several years, including 2023. 

And earlier. 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

prodoctorov.ru 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

prodoctorov.ru

Out of 63 reviews ‒ only 10 ‒ are positive.

Clinics of Dr. Demin

The career profile of another doctor at "Soleil Esthetic" clinic, Sergey Demin, reveals that there have been many plastic surgery clinics in his life: he worked at the "Veka Clinic" as well as the scandalous "Triumph-Palace" clinic. 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Plastic surgeon Sergey Demin 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Regarding "Triumph Palace," which allegedly was closed sometime after the death of patient Ekaterina Kiseleva in 2018: Mr. Demin states in his resume that he worked at the "Triumph Palace" clinic in 2021.  

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

How is that possible? Recall that in the "Triumph Palace" clinic in 2018, after breast cosmetic surgery, 32-year-old Ekaterina Kiseleva died, leaving behind two children.

An examination established: the cause of death – secondary cardiomyopathy. Upon admission to the clinic, the young woman did all the necessary tests and brought the ECG results, but noted that she had sinus arrhythmia. After Ekaterina Kiseleva’s death, the ECG was destroyed: it was not found by either the prosecutor’s investigators or the lawyers, though all other certificates and documents were preserved. 

The "Triumph Palace" clinic allocated 50,000 rubles to Kiseleva’s parents for the funeral and considered the matter closed. 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

The media reported that the "Triumph Palace" clinic was liquidated on September 4, 2020. 

This information was particularly reported by the National News Service.

The commission established that plastic surgeries, including reconstructive ones, were performed on an outpatient basis and as day hospital procedures, and there was no round-the-clock hospital as required by the standards for providing specialized medical care. 

They also found that the standards for equipment in different units of the clinic were not met, there were violations in the organization of the medical organization’s medical commission’s activities, in maintaining medical documentation, as well as in providing paid medical services.

Following the closure of the "Triumph Palace", with the same founder, Larisa Karaganova, a new clinic, "Sokol", was quickly established.  

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

However, in a twist of fate, at the end of May 2025, "Sokol" clinic was also shut down! Though it lasted for 5 years… 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

The "Sokol" clinic allegedly only dealt with cosmetology, but if visitors inquired about plastic surgery, they were discreetly given a surgeon’s phone number and a "password" to mention.

Apparently, that’s why Mr. Demin mentioned in his dossier that he worked at the "Triumph Palace" clinic in 2021.

At the same time, he was the leading plastic surgeon at "Soleil Esthetic".

New trademark

Moving further. 

In 2023, the "Soleil Clinic" changed its trademark.

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

www1.fips.ru/fips_servl/fips_servlet 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

www1.fips.ru/fips_servl/fips_servlet 

And now, as already noted, Sergey Pivkin is ostensibly running things at the clinic.  

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

However, it seems Mr. Pivkin is just a "facade"? 

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

It appears the clinic’s affairs aren’t going too well if their financial indicators are anything to go by.  

Three’s company: Patients are dying at the “Soleil Esthetic” clinic in Podolsk

Clinic "Soleil Esthetic" 

And most likely, that is why the negative reviews are being

And, most likely, that’s why negative reviews are being canceled. But why is it that after the death of the Muscovite, designer N., the clinic "Soleil Esthetic" is still operational? 

However, the plastic surgery clinic "Triumph Palace" was also not immediately closed, but only some time after the death of 32-year-old Ekaterina Kiseleva.

Apparently, this dark story must have a continuation.