A growing number of people have sought out cosmetic treatments involving injections and invasive procedures, which often carry claims to rejuvenate the skin and improve looks by advance technologies with minimal side effects.
But complaints received by the Consumer Council revealed that customers might not get the results they desired - rather they could end up in dissatisfaction, or are even disfigured with lifelong scars or medical complications.
There had been 141 complaints lodged with the Council against invasive beauty treatments like plastic surgery, cosmetic injections and laser therapies in the first 10 months of 2012, a 37% rise compared to 103 complaints received in the corresponding period of 2011.
Consumers had complained about being hard pressed by companies to sign up for expensive treatments of which they knew little or none about the safety and efficacy, nor were they told whether the staff were well trained or qualified to administer the injections or operations.
Others had sought compensation for adverse effects like skin redness and burning after undergoing laser treatment. Some found to have asymmetry of the eyes, breasts and cheeks after cosmetic injections or operations.
Below are some cases which consumers having invasive beauty treatments had sought redress via Consumer Council.
Case 1
Miss Leung was recommended by a beauty salon to join a "platelet rich plasma" treatment plan costing HK $80,000 for rejuvenating the skin. The plan comprising 10 sessions of therapy, involved a procedure in which blood was drawn from her body and injected into her face. After the fourth session, signs of allergies appeared on her face. As her condition was deemed not suitable for further treatment, Ms Leung sought assistance from the Consumer Council to claim refund of HK$48,000 for the remaining sessions. The case was later settled after Council's negotiation and both parties were able to reach an agreement.
Case 2
A bride-to-be Miss Chow was a long-time customer of a beauty salon where she had signed up for services costing HK$380,000. Three days before her wedding, she was recommended by the beauty salon to receive whitening injections costing HK$4,500. But after the treatment, her cheeks became red and bloated, hot and painful. She was then referred by the beauty salon to their associated clinic for medical consultation, where she was prescribed some medications to apply on the face. She was told that the symptoms would disappear in one or two days, but till the eve of the wedding, the problems remained and Miss Chow felt extremely depressed.
She then lodged her complaint with the Council to request for a refund. After 4 months of negotiation, the company agreed to offer Miss Chow HK$200,000 refund for the remaining treatments, as well as medical fees of HK$1,500.
Case 3
Miss Lam bought a hyaluronic acid injection treatment plan for HK$988 via a group purchase website, which included a single injection to raise the nose bridge. When she arrived for the treatment, she was suggested by the doctor to buy additional injections for the reshaping of her nose and face. She finally agreed to pay HK$12,000 for 3 additional doses.
During the treatment, Miss Lam experienced numbness in both sides of her nose and the upper lip, and the feeling remained even one week after the treatment. At times, the feeling of stiffness would extend to the sides of the nose and the cheeks, and to the teeth as well. Asymmetry of the cheeks also appeared. When she later went to a neurologist, she was diagnosed as having a damaged neurilemma, having lost 50% to 70% sensation in the sides of the nose and cheeks, and that it would take months for her to recover. Miss Lam later took her case to the Consumer Council, and the company offered to refund HK$10,000 for settlement. Miss Lam refused the offer and decided to take legal action against the company.
Advice for consumers
Consumers are advised to think twice before having any of the invasive beauty treatments, as doses of injection and energy density of laser devices would be very different among different physical condition of the consumers. It may be disastrous if the treatments are administered by unqualified persons without proper evaluation.
Some companies tried to rid themselves of any liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence with exemption clauses set out in the contracts or receipts. Such exemption clauses are rendered void by the Control of Exemption Clauses Ordinance. Nevertheless, interests of consumers are put at risk as they may be misled into believing that they have no legal rights to redress.
Consumer Council thus called on the government to stipulate guidelines and policies with a view to regulating the beauty services and procedures, in order to safeguard the interests and safety of the consumers.
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- 2012.11.15