Burned at Slimming Centre

When I blogged about whether slimming services should be sought at Slimming Centres or Aesthetic Clinics last week, I was unaware of some of the really dangerous practices going on out there! I happened upon this article from the Straits Times yesterday...

Straits Times: Nov 17, 2009

Burned at slimming centre

Fat-burning procedure goes awry; 83kg housewife left with welt on belly

By Kimberly Spykerman & Amelia Tan

Housewife Rose Lee wanted to burn off her excess fats but ended up being burned instead.

SHE was undergoing a slimming treatment to burn off her excess fat, but she ended up being burned instead.

Housewife Rose Lee now has a 20cm-long welt that stretches across her abdomen, and had to be on painkillers and antibiotics for several days.

The 35-year-old had gone for a slimming treatment at the Geneva Face Body Spa outlet in Ang Mo Kio Central on Oct 28. The treatment, which involved igniting an alcohol-soaked towel on her abdomen, cost $250.

Madam Lee, who stands at 1.58m and weighs 83kg, had not heard of such a treatment before, but she decided to try it anyway. 'It sounded safe and I thought it was a 'purer' way of losing weight,' she told The Straits Times in Mandarin.

It was her first visit to a slimming centre and it was prompted by her children calling her 'da fei' ('big fatty' in Mandarin). There, she was led into a room where an employee lay an alcohol-soaked towel on her abdomen. 'They didn't really explain the procedure in much detail,' Madam Lee said. She did not probe further.

It was only when the therapist whipped out a lighter that she felt slightly alarmed. 'But the employee kept telling me that she was here with me, so I shouldn't be scared,' she added.

Nov 17, 2009
Burned at slimming centre

Fat-burning procedure goes awry; 83kg housewife left with welt on belly

By Kimberly Spykerman & Amelia Tan
Housewife Rose Lee wanted to burn off her excess fats but ended up being burned instead. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

SHE was undergoing a slimming treatment to burn off her excess fat, but she ended up being burned instead.

Housewife Rose Lee now has a 20cm-long welt that stretches across her abdomen, and had to be on painkillers and antibiotics for several days.

The 35-year-old had gone for a slimming treatment at the Geneva Face Body Spa outlet in Ang Mo Kio Central on Oct 28. The treatment, which involved igniting an alcohol-soaked towel on her abdomen, cost $250.

Madam Lee, who stands at 1.58m and weighs 83kg, had not heard of such a treatment before, but she decided to try it anyway. 'It sounded safe and I thought it was a 'purer' way of losing weight,' she told The Straits Times in Mandarin.

It was her first visit to a slimming centre and it was prompted by her children calling her 'da fei' ('big fatty' in Mandarin). There, she was led into a room where an employee lay an alcohol-soaked towel on her abdomen. 'They didn't really explain the procedure in much detail,' Madam Lee said. She did not probe further.

It was only when the therapist whipped out a lighter that she felt slightly alarmed. 'But the employee kept telling me that she was here with me, so I shouldn't be scared,' she added.

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Printed from: http://drchristinecheng.com/burned-at-slimming-centre .
© (c) Dr Christine Cheng 2012.

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  • Dr Christine Cheng

    Dr Christine Cheng
    MB.BCh (Wales), FRCA (UK)

    Anaesthetist with Interest in Aesthetic Medicine
    Entrepreneur/Business Owner
    And the most important job of all... Mother to Ffion & 3 Dogs

    Current Location: Singapore