Salon laser treatment for redness left patient with f irst-degree burns on her face
A WOMAN suffered first degree burns to her face after laser treatment went wrong at a beauty salon, the High Court has heard.
Jolanta Skaudvilaite, 37, had gone to Alchemy Beauty clinic for treatment intended to reduce the appearance of redness on her cheeks.
But Judge Kevin Cross accepted evidence from a plastic surgeon that the laser was ‘inadequately controlled’ and awarded her €30,000 in compensation for her injury.
Ms Skaudvilaite, from Pine Grove, Athlumney Wood, Navan, Co. Meath, told the court that she had suffered burns to her cheeks after going for her appointment in the town in July 2011.
The retail assistant said: ‘I saw in the mirror that something was wrong, and it was painful.
‘The salon had explained that there could be side-effects, but I knew something had gone wrong.’
She went to her doctor seven times in the aftermath of her appointment, the court heard. Her GP stated that Ms Skaudvilaite was very upset and distressed by her experience.
She was prescribed tranquilisers and antibiotics to prevent infection while the burns healed, and the plaintiff was unable to work for ten days.
Ms Skaudvilaite said it took around two weeks for the burns to her left cheek to heal, and a further few weeks for the right side to heal and to lose the darker colour it had taken on.
She said she had been left with hypersensitivity on her face, along with hyperpigmentation on a small area of her cheek.
She alleged that the clinic had failed to implement adequate safety systems to ensure that she did not suffer burns, and that it had failed to exercise a professional level of skill during the treatment.
The salon had initially denied any negligence, and suggested that Ms Skaudvilaite was to blame for her injuries.
It claimed she had exposed herself previously to sunbeds, had not given regard to the informed consent form she signed at the clinic, and had failed to take care of herself after the treatment.
It also said she had willingly and knowingly undertaken a procedure where the risks following treatment were advised to her.
When the case came for hearing yesterday, a director of the company who was present in court confirmed that her own solicitor was no longer representing Alchemy Beauty.
She agreed with Anthony Lowry, for Ms Skaudvilaite, that she understood that a company required legal representation to be heard in court. The case therefore proceeded without any defence being given.
Judge Cross said consultant plastic surgeon David Orr had confirmed that it was normal for a person’s face to suffer temporary bruising after laser treatment.
But Mr Orr said that on this occasion, the laser had been inadequately controlled, leading to the burn injuries.
After reviewing the evidence, and viewing photographs taken the day after the procedure, Judge Cross said: ‘I accept this should not have happened, and that it happened due to the fault of the defendant.
‘The injuries were, I am sure,
Left with hypersensitivity ‘This should not have happened’
nasty for the plaintiff but she has made a good recovery and she did not exaggerate her complaints.
‘Photographs of the incident are compelling.
‘Even though she says there is nothing to see now in her cheek, it is still sensitive and she is left with a minor result from a moderate injury.’
He awarded her a total of €30,000 in damages for her past and future suffering, plus her legal costs.
helen.bruce@dailymail.ie