HIV warning issued to clients of city cosmetic clinic
Health authorities in NSW have issued a warning to patients of a Sydney city cosmetic clinic, saying they may have been exposed to blood viruses.
Health authorities have issued a warning to patients of a Sydney cosmetic clinic saying they may have been exposed to blood borne viruses including HIV and hepatitis.
The warning has been issued by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission and comes after a raid on the Ketthip Beauty Clinic in Sydney’s CBD, following a series of complaints.
The commission says it found evidence highly invasive surgical procedures including breast augmentations were being performed without any registered health practitioner involvement. It also seized a large quantity of surgical equipment including scalpels, sutures, cannulas and other medical devices, much of which was labelled as being “for veterinary use” only.
“Members of the public are being injected with these medications and/or undergoing surgical procedures and being placed at significant risk of harm,” the HCCC said in a statement.
It also found evidence cosmetic injectables were being administered by people who were not registered to do so. Concerns have also been raised about the products themselves.
“The commission located large amounts of controlled medications that are being actively used by the clinic. Most of these medications were imported from overseas and are in active use at the Clinic. A number of these medications were expired,” the HCCC said.
“Clients of the clinic who had infusions, injections or underwent any invasive procedure (such as microdermabrasion or PDO thread lift) should see their GP and ask to be tested for blood borne viruses.”
People with concerns about their treatment at the clinic are being advised to contact authorities via email at prohibitionorders@hccc.nsw.gov.au.
An interim Prohibition Order has been issued for the clinic, preventing health services of any kind to be performed for eight weeks, which is the longest an order can be issued for. However, it can be renewed so it remains in place while further investigations are completed.
In late January, three people in NSW were hospitalised with the rare but potentially fatal condition botulism, after they were given unregulated cosmetic injections at a backyard operation in Sydney. One of the patients was treated in intensive care and placed on a ventilator.
In October 2024, a public health warning was issued for another cosmetic clinic in Sydney, again warning patients may have been exposed to blood borne viruses like hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV.
It comes as pressure mounts on authorities to do more to crack down on the cosmetic injectables industry.
The cosmetic industry more broadly has faced intense criticism in recent years. Several investigations and media reporting have highlighted concerning practices that have resulted in significant patient harm, largely associated with doctors performing cosmetic procedures when they have no official surgical training.
Do you know more about this story? Contact the reporter: pennytimms@protonmail.com
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