Karnataka health dept raids hotel over planned aesthetic procedures

Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Department officials raided a five-star hotel on Richmond Road in Bengaluru on November 5 following a complaint that a Delhi-based practitioner was allegedly planning to offer injectable fat-loss treatments and other aesthetic procedures at the premises.

The action followed a complaint by the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL), which raised concerns about the practitioner's qualifications, the legality of conducting invasive procedures in a hotel room and the safety of the products being advertised.

The practitioner had reportedly promoted her Bengaluru visit through social media and WhatsApp, offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on various cosmetic and weight-loss procedures. She had also informed prospective clients that appointments would take place inside a hotel room. A promotional post thanking people for registering and announcing that bookings were full was reportedly circulated ahead of the visit.

The practitioner had earlier operated a social media account with more than 50,000 followers, promoting a programme advertised as a rapid weight and inch-loss treatment. The account was subsequently suspended, following which she reportedly created another profile and continued publicising her services.

Videos demonstrating the use of an injectable product marketed for rapid fat loss had also been available on her account but were later removed.

Meanwhile, a prospective client who contacted the practitioner reportedly told doctors associated with IADVL that the quoted cost was around Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 per treatment area, including the face and abdomen.

During the inspection, the practitioner reportedly told officials that she had brought a few nutraceutical products to show clients and intended to provide counselling before referring them to Delhi for treatment. She reportedly acknowledged that she was not a dermatologist and claimed to hold an MBBS qualification.

Although officials did not find injection pens at the hotel, they recovered an empty carton of a fat-dissolving injectable product. Weight-loss capsules, collagen products and other supplements were also found. The seized products have been sent for examination. The empty carton reportedly belonged to Lipo Lab PPC and did not carry the mandatory CDSCO import or manufacturing licence number.

The District Health Officer said the practitioner's credentials were being verified. “She claims to be registered with the Delhi Medical Council. As per the law, she cannot practise in Karnataka without the necessary authorisation. We will write to the Medical Council seeking information about her credentials and take further action,” the official said, reports the Daily.

The practitioner reportedly left the hotel following the raid and asked those who had arrived for the procedures to meet her during a future visit.

In its complaint, IADVL had urged the district health authorities and drug control officials to verify the practitioner's medical qualifications, registration and training for the procedures she advertised. The association also questioned whether she held valid registration with the National Medical Commission or any State Medical Council. It pointed out that a Delhi Dental Council registration number had been circulated in connection with her name, but said it could not establish whether she was registered as a medical practitioner.

The association further argued that conducting injectable procedures in a hotel room could not be treated as a legitimate medical service merely because the premises were being used for an organised event. Citing the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007, it stressed that invasive procedures require an authorised clinical facility with appropriate infection-control arrangements and emergency care provisions.

IADVL also sought verification of the injectable product's composition, manufacturer, country of origin, regulatory approvals, batch details, expiry date, storage conditions and supply chain. It referred to a CDSCO notice clarifying that injectable preparations do not fall under the definition of cosmetics and are subject to the applicable provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.

Dermatologists have also raised concerns about the growing availability of injectable aesthetic treatments through beauty parlours, dental clinics and other establishments where practitioners may not have the required qualifications.

“These treatments, if performed by unqualified professionals, can cause serious damage-not just to the skin, but also putting lives at risk. There have been several cases of people suffering permanent scars, loss of eyesight, skin deformities, serious infections, and even death,” said the chairperson of IADVL's Anti-Quackery Committee, The South First reported. 

A dermatologist also described treating patients who had developed complications following cosmetic procedures performed elsewhere.

“Many patients unfortunately come to me after treatments have gone wrong. Some have botched Botox procedures, permanent burns on the face, damage near the eyes, and other complications. We have been seeing dentists performing or prescribing several such cosmetic procedures, including fillers, Botox, and HIFU. It really pains me to see them playing with patients’ lives,” the dermatologist said.

The Health Minister urged the public to exercise caution while seeking cosmetic procedures, particularly those advertised through temporary camps or hotel-based services. “I urge people not to fall for aesthetic treatments offered in hotels, homes, or temporary camps. Take any injection or treatment only from qualified doctors at registered hospitals or clinics, and report such activities to the Health Department immediately,” he said.

The minister also confirmed that officials from the Health Department, drug control authorities and police had taken part in the inspection. Further investigation is underway to verify the practitioner's qualifications and registration, as well as the source and regulatory status of the products recovered from the hotel.