A U.S. plastic surgeon who began posting live procedures on social media faced a licensing action after authorities determined serious concerns about patient safety and professional conduct.
Dr. Katherine Grave of Ohio, widely known online as Roxy, built a large following with extreme documentation of cosmetic procedures. Her TikTok presence drew hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of likes, turning medical content into highly watched entertainment for many viewers.
During a hearing held on July 12, the practitioner explained that her online content was intended to bring a smile to people in a world that can feel overwhelming and harsh. She described moments when she produced lighthearted videos amid the high-pressure environment of medical care, insisting the aim was to uplift viewers even as professional standards were questioned.
The State Board of Health took formal action, announcing a permanent revocation of Grave’s medical license and a civil penalty of four thousand five hundred dollars for violations of established medical standards. The commission cited ongoing concerns about patient safety and warned that continuing to practice could cause serious harm to the public.
Records show Grave’s license was suspended earlier in the timeline, with the suspension taking effect on November 18, 2022. Past cautions issued by state authorities emphasized limits on using social media as part of medical practice, highlighting warnings from previous years about professional boundaries and patient care when online platforms are involved.
Multiple patients treated during Grave’s publicized sessions reportedly faced complications tied to operating protocols. In one documented case, a patient who underwent liposuction followed by a hip lift presented with postoperative issues that required additional medical intervention. Subsequent hospital assessment identified concerns such as perforation of the small intestine and a soft tissue infection, underscoring the perils associated with deviations from standard surgical procedures.
As a result of these findings, Grave’s TikTok and Instagram accounts were disabled, reflecting a broader move by social media platforms to enforce patient-safety guidelines and professional standards in medical content.
The case has been cited in discussions about the responsibilities of medical professionals who share clinical work online, including the need to balance transparency with patient privacy and safety. In this context, authorities emphasized that while social media can inform and educate, it cannot substitute for rigorous clinical practice and accountability. [Source: National Board of Medical Standards, state health department records, and hearing transcripts]