An investigation launched in the wake of singer Giorgos Mazonakis’ death has identified 42 complaints involving beauty and aesthetic centers in the western city of Patras where medical procedures are allegedly being offered, raising fresh questions about the regulation of the country’s until then booming cosmetic and rejuvenation sector.
A spokeswoman for the association said it had examined online advertisements, websites and complaints concerning health and aesthetic services that may involve medical procedures. Its findings have been submitted to police and prosecutors for assessment.
The investigation also raised concerns about activities at five medical practices in the city, with some cases potentially leading to criminal proceedings, according to reports in the Greek media. The allegations have not yet been adjudicated.
The findings come as authorities face growing pressure to strengthen oversight of private facilities offering treatments marketed as anti-aging, regenerative medicine and rejuvenation services.
Mazonakis, 54, died on Sept. 9 after suffering cardiac arrest while undergoing plasmapheresis at a private medical practice in Athens’ Kolonaki district. The procedure involves separating blood plasma from other blood components before returning them to the patient. The circumstances of his death, including questions about the clinic’s authorization, equipment and handling of the emergency, have prompted investigations and renewed scrutiny of the sector. The case remains under judicial investigation.
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Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has said the government intends to establish a clearer regulatory framework for longevity and anti-aging services.
In Patras, the local medical association highlighted the distinction between ordinary beauty treatments and medical procedures. Botox injections and injectable hyaluronic acid, the spokeswoman said, are medical acts that must be performed by appropriately qualified specialist doctors in legally licensed medical practices, using suitable, certified products.
Reports cited by To Vima also describe complaints about alleged “Botox parties” held in private homes and seminars reportedly conducted at hotels on weekends. Some complaints concern injections using substances of uncertain origin or products that may not have been properly certified, raising concerns about patient safety and the management of complications.
The association has also warned against presenting unproven methods as established medical treatments. It stressed that bioresonance lacks scientific evidence and that “quantum medicine” is not a recognized medical term. It has called on the public to check practitioners’ qualifications and confirm that facilities hold the required operating licences.
The Patras findings add to a broader debate over whether existing inspection and licensing arrangements are adequate to oversee an industry in which medical interventions are sometimes marketed as routine beauty or wellness services. The association says it will continue its interventions to protect public health and ensure that medical procedures are performed lawfully.