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.

                  

After abandoning it for some time now, I suddenly decided to do a little post in the very neglected blog on that site tonight. I usually post more important updates in the Simply Aesthetic Sandbox blog which is incorporated in the main Simply Aesthetic website template.

So today's little post is on what could happen when one visits a Slimming Centre? I almost got trapped a decade ago, without realising the danger I was putting myself into by answering the free ad. Since then, I've interviewed Therapists & Sales Consultants in the industry, plus cheated clients of course. So I just put some of my knowledge into this little blog entry.