'It was a mess': Mum shares horror story after undergoing popular treatment!
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Many people want to look and feel their best.
Sometimes, it could mean turning to the latest beauty treatments and cosmetic procedures.
What happens when a simple trip to the clinic turns into a nightmare?
One Melbourne mum's harrowing experience was a stark reminder that not all that glitters is gold in the world of cosmetic enhancements.
Sarah, a 47-year-old mum, thought she was treating herself when she booked a $160 skin needling session at a well-known national clinic.
She had the treatment before with no issues, so what could go wrong?
Shortly after her appointment, Sarah's face began to burn intensely.
'Having something wrong with my face that I've never experienced in my life and sitting in emergency having my face like I've just got sunburnt out in 50 degrees and my eyeballs were burning,' Sarah recalled.
'The whole thing, it was a mess.'
'I said to the lady, "How much longer do I need to wait?" she further asked.
'It's been hours, and she does that thing on my face with a gadget that takes your temperature. So she reaches over anyway, and my face was 42 degrees.'
'I have never seen my skin look so bad. What I thought was going to be a positive experience was the most miserable thing to happen,' Sarah lamented as she recounted the ordeal.
What made matters worse was the response from the clinic.
Despite Sarah's obvious distress, she shared that she received little aftercare or concern.
After a brief call with a doctor, she was told to see her GP if things did not improve.
Her GP prescribed steroid creams and, eventually, a strong course of steroid tablets.
She was also given daily injections to treat a serious skin infection, cellulitis, likely caused by the numbing cream or the needling equipment itself.
A year after the incident, Sarah's skin was still sensitive and prone to redness.
She has also spent up to $1,000 on creams and medications for her skin.
The clinic refunded her for future bookings but not for the botched treatment itself.
'No one took accountability. No one took any responsibility for it. And I don't think anyone cared to know how I turned out,' she said.
Sarah's story was, unfortunately, not an isolated case.
The cosmetic industry in Australia has exploded, with Aussies spending over $1 billion a year on treatments like laser, skin needling, hair removal, and body contouring.
These services are available everywhere—from high-end clinics to shopping centre kiosks.
Yet, behind the glossy marketing and 'before and after' photos lie a worrying truth: the industry is under-regulated.
In most states, there are few rules about who can operate powerful devices like lasers or perform invasive procedures.
Only Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia have specific regulations for specific treatments.
A recent study by Monash University and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) started an investigation into the risks of these procedures.
'These treatments can result in serious injuries—including burns and infection—and may cause permanent scarring or skin damage,' lead researcher Zoe Thomas warned.
On the other hand, Aesthetics Practitioners Advisory Network CEO Tina Viney shared the possible risks of these procedures.
'You might have a light burn, you might have blistering, or you may have a severe burn and you can have up to second degree or even third degree burns,' she said in an interview.
'The other thing is it can change the pigmentation so you can create blotchy glossiness in the colour component of the skin, so you can have brown patches or white patches happening on the skin.'
'The third one, obviously, this injury is quite severe; it can result in permanent scarring,' she added.
Beyond the physical effects, many victims also reported feeling abandoned by clinics.
Insurance data also suggested that the problem has been growing.
Four years ago, there were one or two injury claims a week. Now, it's up to five injury claims daily.
There has been growing pressure on governments to tighten the rules around cosmetic treatments.
Researchers are currently surveying Australians who have had bad experiences with cosmetic clinics to build stronger consumer protections.
Cosmetic treatments offer a confidence boost and a way to look as young as they feel.
Yet, with Sarah's story, the risks can be far greater than most people realise.
Have you or someone you know ever had a cosmetic treatment go wrong? Do you have tips for finding a trustworthy provider? Share your experiences and stories in the comments section below.
Sometimes, it could mean turning to the latest beauty treatments and cosmetic procedures.
What happens when a simple trip to the clinic turns into a nightmare?
One Melbourne mum's harrowing experience was a stark reminder that not all that glitters is gold in the world of cosmetic enhancements.
Sarah, a 47-year-old mum, thought she was treating herself when she booked a $160 skin needling session at a well-known national clinic.
She had the treatment before with no issues, so what could go wrong?
Shortly after her appointment, Sarah's face began to burn intensely.
'Having something wrong with my face that I've never experienced in my life and sitting in emergency having my face like I've just got sunburnt out in 50 degrees and my eyeballs were burning,' Sarah recalled.
'The whole thing, it was a mess.'
'I said to the lady, "How much longer do I need to wait?" she further asked.
'It's been hours, and she does that thing on my face with a gadget that takes your temperature. So she reaches over anyway, and my face was 42 degrees.'
'I have never seen my skin look so bad. What I thought was going to be a positive experience was the most miserable thing to happen,' Sarah lamented as she recounted the ordeal.
What made matters worse was the response from the clinic.
Despite Sarah's obvious distress, she shared that she received little aftercare or concern.
After a brief call with a doctor, she was told to see her GP if things did not improve.
Her GP prescribed steroid creams and, eventually, a strong course of steroid tablets.
She was also given daily injections to treat a serious skin infection, cellulitis, likely caused by the numbing cream or the needling equipment itself.
A year after the incident, Sarah's skin was still sensitive and prone to redness.
She has also spent up to $1,000 on creams and medications for her skin.
The clinic refunded her for future bookings but not for the botched treatment itself.
'No one took accountability. No one took any responsibility for it. And I don't think anyone cared to know how I turned out,' she said.
Sarah's story was, unfortunately, not an isolated case.
The cosmetic industry in Australia has exploded, with Aussies spending over $1 billion a year on treatments like laser, skin needling, hair removal, and body contouring.
These services are available everywhere—from high-end clinics to shopping centre kiosks.
Yet, behind the glossy marketing and 'before and after' photos lie a worrying truth: the industry is under-regulated.
In most states, there are few rules about who can operate powerful devices like lasers or perform invasive procedures.
Only Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia have specific regulations for specific treatments.
A recent study by Monash University and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) started an investigation into the risks of these procedures.
'These treatments can result in serious injuries—including burns and infection—and may cause permanent scarring or skin damage,' lead researcher Zoe Thomas warned.
On the other hand, Aesthetics Practitioners Advisory Network CEO Tina Viney shared the possible risks of these procedures.
'You might have a light burn, you might have blistering, or you may have a severe burn and you can have up to second degree or even third degree burns,' she said in an interview.
'The other thing is it can change the pigmentation so you can create blotchy glossiness in the colour component of the skin, so you can have brown patches or white patches happening on the skin.'
'The third one, obviously, this injury is quite severe; it can result in permanent scarring,' she added.
Beyond the physical effects, many victims also reported feeling abandoned by clinics.
Insurance data also suggested that the problem has been growing.
Four years ago, there were one or two injury claims a week. Now, it's up to five injury claims daily.
There has been growing pressure on governments to tighten the rules around cosmetic treatments.
Researchers are currently surveying Australians who have had bad experiences with cosmetic clinics to build stronger consumer protections.
Cosmetic treatments offer a confidence boost and a way to look as young as they feel.
Yet, with Sarah's story, the risks can be far greater than most people realise.
