Aesthetic procedure at beauty center causes facial paralysis: They offered a discount

Serap Kopar, a 57-year-old living in Ankara, made an appointment at a beauty center owned by a woman named Ş.S., which she found online, because she was unhappy with the wrinkles on her face. According to the allegations, the staff, who told Kopar she needed to pay 50,000 liras for the procedure, set a trap by claiming that the Ministry of Health provided interest-free loans under a so-called 'Health Fund,' and that they could allocate the 50,000 liras from there and split it into 10 installments. Suspicious of the situation, Kopar stated that she wanted to make the payment by credit card. Kopar, who said that different types of liquids were injected into her face after the fee was collected, alleged that she had to go to the hospital after falling ill a week later. Kopar was diagnosed with facial paralysis. After filing a complaint against the beauty center officials, Kopar experienced a second shock while checking her bank account. Learning that the 50,000 liras she paid had not yet been set up for installments and that the transaction was made through a 'POS' device belonging to a jeweler, Kopar went to the beauty center with her husband. Kopar was told that there had been a mistake during the transaction, that the money would be sent back to her account, and that the installment plan would be arranged that way. Stating that the money sent to the jeweler's account was this time sent back to her from an account belonging to a furniture store, Kopar claimed that she could only split the payment into 4 installments and that hundreds of people like her had been victimized in the same way. Stating that they have filed a complaint regarding the matter and that she will continue her legal battle to the end, Kopar expressed that it is not yet certain whether she will return to her former state and that this will be determined after the treatment she will receive.

"When I found the price high, they offered a discount and we agreed on 50,000 liras"

Speaking about the incident, Serap Kopar stated that she was complaining about the wrinkles on her face, that she was looking for a beauty center she could trust, and that she found this center on the internet, saying, "They had also performed procedures on celebrities. I trusted them because they were in a central location and I requested an appointment. When I went, they told me they would perform the procedure on my face and that I would see the difference within 10 minutes. They were very confident. Later, I met with the accounting team. They said the fee was 75,000 liras. When I found the price high, they offered a discount and we agreed on 50,000 liras. They told me that there was a 'Health Fund' from the Ministry of Health, that they would allocate the fee from there, and that I could pay it in installments without interest," she said.

"When I found the price high, they offered a discount and we agreed on 50,000 liras"

Speaking about the incident, Serap Kopar stated that she was complaining about the wrinkles on her face, that she was looking for a beauty center she could trust, and that she found this center on the internet, saying, "They had also performed procedures on celebrities. I trusted them because they were in a central location and I requested an appointment. When I went, they told me they would perform the procedure on my face and that I would see the difference within 10 minutes. They were very confident. Later, I met with the accounting team. They said the fee was 75,000 liras. When I found the price high, they offered a discount and we agreed on 50,000 liras. They told me that there was a 'Health Fund' from the Ministry of Health, that they would allocate the fee from there, and that I could pay it in installments without interest," she said.

"They didn't care even though I said my face wasn't numb and I was afraid of needles"

Stating that she said her face was not numb during the procedure but that this was ignored by the staff, Kopar said, "I accessed my bank account from my phone. They took it from my hand and wanted to perform the transaction themselves. They said a fund was defined in my name and they would perform the transaction. I thought they were going to take out a loan in my name. When I stated that I did not want them to perform a transaction in this way, they asked for my credit card. They said they charged 50,000 liras from my card and that I could pay it in 10 installments. They stated that the installment transactions would be reflected in my account a week later. Then they applied cream to my face. We went to the procedure room in less than a minute. They didn't care even though I said my face wasn't numb and I was afraid of needles. There were needles of different sizes in the room we entered. They performed the procedure all over my face with needles. They stuck so many needles in that it hurt a lot," she said.

"We learned that they made the transaction through a 'POS' device belonging to a jeweler"

Stating that they went back to the beauty center later due to their suspicions, Kopar said, "I was in bad shape when I left the room. Those there said the situation was normal. A few days later, spots and shedding began to form on my body. I had a headache. At that time, I realized that the installment of the transaction had still not been done. My husband and I went to the beauty center. We said that the installment still hadn't been done. They said there was a mistake and stated that they could do a maximum of 4 installments. We also learned that they made the transaction through a 'POS' device belonging to a jeweler. Later, they canceled the first transaction and sent the 50,000 liras back to my account to pay in installments. The account the money was sent from also belonged to a furniture store," she stated.

"My mouth became crooked, my face sagged"

Speaking about the health problems she experienced, Kopar said, "A few days after handling the installment transaction, I realized that my face was numb. I had difficulty walking. I went to the hospital. I was in very bad shape. I realized that I was getting worse. After long tests, I was taken under observation at the hospital and received treatment for 4 days." Noting that she also had problems with hearing, Kopar said, "My mouth became crooked, my face sagged. I was diagnosed with facial paralysis. I will undergo physical therapy for months. I don't know how much it will improve. I can't close my eye while sleeping. I have been very victimized. I am filing a complaint against everyone who put me in this state. I saw that hundreds of people were victimized like me. I have filed complaints everywhere," she said.

"My husband reached the jeweler who owns the POS device from which the money was withdrawn"

Stating that they reached the jeweler to whom the money was sent, Kopar said, "My husband reached the jeweler who owns the POS device from which the money was withdrawn. He told us, 'I lent the device for a few days so my friends wouldn't be victimized. I have nothing to do with them, I even have receivables from them.' My husband also reacted to him. Then he told us that he would talk to his friends and that they would refund our money," she said.