“Beauty Bandits” Get Botox, Leave Before Paying
A disturbing trend at cosmetic and dermatology centers is being reported at msnbc.com: “cosmetic” criminals who get non-surgical cosmetic treatments and then leave without paying or write a bad check.
The Latest “Beauty Bandit”
The latest case was a woman who received over $3,000 worth of Botox and dermal fillers in a Fort Lauderdale dermatology center and then disappeared after telling staff she had to run to an ATM.
Dubbed the “Beauty Bandit,” the suspect was arrested recently, but others have been reported, including cases in Newport Beach, Calif.; Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; Brisbane, Australia and Kenton, England.
“From talking to our doctors, this is a problem that’s occurring from coast to coast,” says Jeff Karzen, spokesman for the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.
The Upswing in Cosmetic Crimes
According to msnbc.com, doctors are pointing to the bad economy as one factor in the increase in these crimes, nicknamed “pricks-and-runs.” Another reason some cite is the perceived “necessity” of cosmetic procedures.
Botox is no longer considered a luxury says Dr. Jon Grazer, a Newport Beach plastic surgeon who was hit by a Botox bandit last year. “It’s something people have to have, and if they can’t afford it because of the economy, I think it’s going to push them to get it by whatever means they can.”
“We’ve had it happen three times,” says Las Vegas cosmetic surgeon Dr. Samir Pancholi. “The first time, it was a woman in her 50s who came in and got treatment, then said, ‘My purse is in the car, I’ll go grab it and be right back.’ Then she was gone.”
Avoiding “Pricks-and-Runs”
To avoid falling victim to these “beauty bandits” again, many offices affected by these crimes are changing their payment rules, such as requiring all new patients to pay prior to receiving treatment.
Tags: botox
