Facial laser session leaves woman with burns; consumer panel orders Rs 1.11 lakh payout

NEW DELHI: A Bengaluru district consumer commission has held a beauty clinic liable for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice after a woman suffered facial burns following a laser hair removal procedure.

The commission directed the clinic to pay Rs 1.1 lakh in damages and litigation costs, besides refunding the procedure fee with interest.In its September 30, 2026, order, the III Additional Bengaluru Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directed the clinic to refund Rs 1,100 with interest from the date of payment until realisation, pay Rs 1 lakh as damages for skin damage and mental agony, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs.

It gave the clinic 45 days to comply.

Laser hair removal procedure leaves woman with facial burns

According to the commission order, Anitha, a resident of Bengaluru, visited Berkowits Hair & Skin Clinic on April 22, 2026, for a scheduled laser hair removal session on her upper lip and chin. She paid Rs 1,100 for the procedure.During the treatment, she experienced an intense burning sensation and informed the technician about her discomfort. The technician allegedly told her that the sensation was normal and continued with the procedure.

The woman said she suffered severe burns and inflammation on her lip and chin immediately after the session. Her skin later became extremely dark, and she developed a painful wound that was identified as a second-degree burn, according to the complaint.She subsequently consulted doctors at other branches of the clinic for further treatment. She also alleged that the injuries affected her facial appearance, confidence and professional life.Anitha sent a legal notice to the clinic on April 26, 2026, seeking compensation. The clinic replied on April 30, denying liability. She then approached the consumer commission, seeking a refund of the procedure fee, Rs 3 lakh in compensation and Rs 25,000 towards litigation costs.The clinic contested the allegations in its written arguments, denying deficiency in service and unfair trade practice. It also argued that the complaint was liable to be dismissed on grounds relating to the parties included in the case.

The commission, however, rejected the clinic's formal version on September 7, 2026, because it had been filed beyond the statutory period, though it retained the document on record.

Commission's finding on laser hair removal treatment

The commission, comprising president Shivaram K and members Rekha Sayannavar and Suma Anilkumar, examined the woman's evidence, photographs of her facial injuries, medical prescription and correspondence between the parties.It noted that the woman had produced photographs showing burn injuries and a medical prescription relating to further treatment. The commission also considered her allegation that the clinic had failed to conduct an adequate preliminary assessment of her skin and a necessary sensitivity test before proceeding with the treatment.The commission held that a service provider carrying out a cosmetic procedure directly on the skin was required to exercise reasonable care, including making appropriate enquiries about the customer's skin condition, allergies and possible contraindications.It observed that the clinic's failure to take the necessary precautions amounted to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.The commission also considered the impact of the injuries on the woman's appearance and confidence, noting that she had approached the clinic to improve her appearance but instead suffered a visible adverse reaction.

Final order

The commission partly allowed the complaint and directed Berkowits Hair & Skin Clinic to:

The clinic was directed to comply with the order within 45 days. If it fails to do so, the amount of Rs 1.1 lakh will carry interest at 9 percent per annum from the date of the order until realisation.The total fixed payout ordered by the commission is Rs 1.11 lakh, excluding interest on the refund and any additional interest that may apply in case of non-compliance.