Melbourne cosmetic treatment providers Si Chen and Ziyang Chen, and their business Snow Skincare Center (sic), have been issued with separate interim prohibition orders banning the provision and advertising of any cosmetic surgical or medical procedures while the Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC) conducts an investigation.

Health Complaints Commissioner Karen Cusack issued the interim orders following a complaint made to the HCC alleging the providers had breached the code of conduct for general health services in Victoria. 

Ms Cusack said under the code of conduct all general health services, including cosmetic treatment services, must: 

  • Provide safe and ethical healthcare
  • Obtain consent for treatment
  • Take care to protect consumers from infection
  • Minimise harm and act appropriately if something goes wrong.
  • Report concerns about other practitioners
  • Keep appropriate records and comply with privacy laws
  • Be covered by insurance
  • Display information about the general code of conduct and making a complaint.

Ms Cusack said the interim prohibition orders also temporarily banned the providers and Snow Skincare Centre (sic), also trading as L. Young Skincare of Korea, from possessing or storing botulinum toxin (botox), and from administering any unregistered therapeutic goods or scheduled medicines.

“These interim prohibition orders prohibit Si Chen, Ziyang Chen and Snow Skincare Center (sic) from providing any general health services, paid or otherwise, that involve cutting or piercing the skin, including injectable cosmetic treatments,” Ms Cusack said. 

“The orders will remain in place while the HCC conducts an investigation into a complaint made against these providers.” 
As at February 2019 the HCC had received 179 complaints and enquiries about cosmetic treatments carried out by general health service providers since February 2017. 

Any person considering undertaking a cosmetic treatment should carefully make an informed decision and ask the provider about: 

  • their qualifications and experience, and the qualifications and experience of others in the practice
  • the products they use, and whether they have been approved for use in Australia
  • the risks involved
  • if they have insurance in the instance something does go wrong
  • where the procedure will be carried out.

If you have a complaint or concern about a cosmetic treatment provider, or any other general health service, please call the HCC on 1300 582 113 or contact us via our online complaint form