Cosmetic complaints double as HCCC investigates several ‘dodgy’ practitioners

NSW’s Health Care Complaints Commission has slapped five practitioners and two clinics with interim prohibition orders since January last year, as complaints to the health body increase sharply.

Seven cosmetic practitioners and clinics are currently under investigation by NSW’s health complaints watchdog following claims of botched fillers, butt injections and infections — with complaints about procedures-gone-wrong doubling over the past year.

The Health Care Complaints Commission has slapped five practitioners and two clinics with interim prohibition orders since January last year, after they allegedly claimed to be doctors and nurses, performed unlicensed injections, and caused serious illness, including botulism, the Telegraph can reveal.

A further five fake practitioners have been permanently struck off in NSW since 2014, including one woman who the regulator says performed vaginal rejuvenation when she was only qualified to install eyelash extensions.

Norsafiza Zakaria was subject to a prohibition order against providing cosmetic treatments after three Sydney women contracted botulism in January 2025.

In 2021, just four complaints were made about cosmetic therapists in NSW, last year that was up to 21, according to the HCCC, while a further 44 complaints were made last year relating to cosmetic health facilities.

The HCCC has revealed it is “increasingly concerned” about botched procedures by dodgy practitioners, fearing many cases go unreported – and a respected Sydney cosmetic doctor agrees – saying illegal practices are happening “far more often” than what’s being detected.

“It’s widespread from my experience,” Dr Rafael Mejian said.

“I’ve had people come into my practice where they’ve had products injected, and I know they’re not TGA approved products, and when I try to clarify from the patient, they can’t get that information either because the nurse has used product that’s not approved for use in Australia.

“There’s a problem when it comes to the easy access of non-approve products. They are bringing them in from overseas and it can be very dangerous.”

Dr Mejian, who runs his own cosmetic clinic, said there was also a big issue with some registered practitioners performing injections and treatments in non-approved settings to avoid the strict regulations.

The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission has issued a public warning against Khadije Dandachli.

Typically, a doctor must approve the administering of a substance before it is carried out by a nurse, however Dr Mejian said nurses were often administering at home or in unsterile environments.

“There are nurses who are injecting in the shed in the back of their houses, and they’re not getting scripts from doctors,” he said.

“There has to be more consequences when these things come to light, so that it dissuades nurses from actually doing these unapproved practices, more than the slap on the wrist.

“There has to be sort of career ending changes to make sure that they’re not doing these really dangerous practices.”

In the past month warnings have been issued about two unregistered practitioners who have either given patients botulism, or potentially exposed them to HIV, with NSW Health Minister Ryan Park urging people to report any dodgy docs for investigation.

“We’ve got strong laws in place governing the prescription, supply and administration of cosmetic medicines to patients,” he said.

“(But) I encourage anyone who has any concerns about the service they are receive from these sorts of providers to contact the Health Care Complaints Commission who can investigate these matters and undertake the appropriate action.”

Clients of the Ketthip Clinic in Sydney have been urged to get tested for blood borne viruses due to breaches of poisons and skin penetration protocols by an unregistered practitioner.

Warnings were issued about Pei Pan earlier this month, who allegedly claimed to be a doctor and was performing injections at a nondescript office in the heart of Sydney.

Inside Ketthip Clinic at 368 Sussex St, HCCC inspectors allege staff pretended to be doctors and potentially performed breast augmentations with veterinary equipment as well as giving “non-sterile injections of potentially toxic substances”, with clients now urged to visit their GPs as soon as possible to be tested for blood borne diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Then there is Khadije Dandachli, who allegedly performed “several procedures” where she introduced herself to patients at Little Europe Beauty Clinic in Liverpool as a registered nurse prior to performing the treatment and then injected an “unknown substance” into their buttocks for glute enhancement, according to the HCCC.

At Fresh Beauty Clinic on George Street, staff are being investigated for giving Botox and fillers without medical registration, again exposing clients to bloodborne diseases.

Jie Shao was charged with manslaughter after her patient died from a botched breast implant. Picture: NCA News Wire / Adam Yip

“This (21 complaints) is a small number but it is nearly double the number of complaints from the previous year,” a HCCC spokesman said.

“The Commission does not believe this number reflects the full extent of unsafe practices, as some consumers may not report botched or risky treatments.”

The spike in botched procedures prompted the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority – better known as AHPRA – to launch a national cosmetic surgery investigation team.

Since September 5, 2022, AHPRA has received over 1500 calls to the surgery hotline which has resulted in regulatory action has been taken against 31 practitioners.

Originally published as Cosmetic complaints double as HCCC investigates several ‘dodgy’ practitioners