Horribly ripped skin during a Professional facial wax, please help! Pics attached.

[Itsfreetobekind]

Hi everyone, (pics attached)

I decided to have my face waxed by a professional because doing it myself is a fiddly job at best.

Before booking, I spoke to the beautician and I said I've gotten a scar before on my face with OTC wax strips and she said it should not have happened if done right because the skin needs to be pulled taut to prevent that.
I agreed and said that's why I need a professional to do it this time and she's been doing this for 10 years.

Started off with a mind numbingly painful Hollywood wax - I was literally seeing stars - followed by tummy and then face which was a neverending nightmare too. Problems:

1. The skin was not stretched before pulling on the strips.
2. So this meant pulling the cloth and my skin pulled along with it and no wax coming off my face. Cue several more one handed push and pulls to get it out.
3. Final rip that hurt so bad.
4. I felt a very thick layer of wax was used so the pulling just stretched out my face and copious amounts of wax like pulling on gum (it hurt).

But no stretching - lots of pain and MANY SCARS. See attached pics.

Why didn't I say anything while she was doing it? It was the last treatment of the session and I kept asking her to do it in the beginning and put pressure on after the rip (ladies you know much that helps) but eventually she just kept forgetting and did it her way and after the nether bits waxing - I was literally seeing galaxies of stars.

I rang her just now and all she had to say was "My apologies and try keep it clean and fingers crossed, it will heal over the next couple of days". I said I could send her photos but she wasn't so keen - said I could if I wanted to. Should I?

She is the owner of her business too. WWYD please? (Please be gentle, I've been up all night in agony and I'm going to see a GP today)

I offered her a plug socket for heating the wax but she declined saying it was hot enough. It does make sense that it was probably not hot enough.

I just sent the consultants picture evidence.

Do you think I need to report to Trading Standard even thought I've contacted solicitors too?

Wax cools down very quickly, so without a plug she couldn't control the temperature. It will have been too cold.

Unfortunately, there is no regulation of this industry. Anyone can set up as a therapist and perform treatments. It's not breaking any law. If she doesn't say she has qualifications or belong to any industry body, then you can't really report her to trading standards. Because she hasn't "said" she ha any. Unfortunately you as the customer has assumed this.

Mobile therapists have always been a "grey" area. Salons are not always perfect at all, but less likely to employ someone who is unqualified.

I have always been pleased to tell clients about my experience and qualifications. I spent four years training so it really annoys me when people set up claiming to be qualified.

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like it's your fault. Really really it isn't. You should expect someone to be insured and qualified.

I know what you mean Windy. She says she's fully insured and has NVQ 2 and 3 qualifications, it said so on her site.
I did not assume she was qualified hence the trust in her services.

If she says she is qualified and insured then it should be no problem to make a claim.

The fact that the wax pot wasn't plugged in is a major error and pretty basic. For example in all salons I've worked in we have timers for the wax pots to come on well in advance of business hours to ensure they are at the correct temperature for use. It's the first thing you check in the morning. If a wax pot has to be moved and unplugged it can be a stress, likewise when you need to refill the pot, you have to make sure you do it when you don't need to use it for a few hours so it can come to temperature.

A mobile therapist using an unplugged wax pot is so so dangerous. The wax would have been a different temperature at the start of your wax to the finish which is why the damage is worse in different areas. The wax would have been constantly cooling down.

Good God, that looks awful. Hope you get it all sorted.

for you

Why would you get yr face waxed it looks so sore..poor you

I've had this before, think it's just the way my skin reacts to wax.

Move on to threading. Then if you have the money Laser x

I'm also a beauty therapist (11years). I agree with windy, I would imagine the wax was too cool. If too cold it's hard to apply and it goes on to thick. It should normally feel pretty warm on application but not burning hot. Another point to consider - did you have a heat treatment close to your waxing, sunbed, hot shower/bath etc as this will cause the skin to be sensitive and if you are using any facial products or cream that contain retinol as waxing is advised against whilst using a product containing it. Also being pregnant can cause skin sensitivity. I'm by no means saying you are responsible for this just wanted to point out other things that may have contributed to your skin damage.

I've had waxing done for ages, so I am aware of what not to do before a wax. I just haven't had it done recently - we move a lot so I have to keep finding new beauticians.
I picked her because of the convenience and qualifications.

I have to add, I had 3 treatments done in succession, the face being the last so the wax would have certainly cooled over time since it wasn't plugged in.

I feel so self concious and I can't even wear any make up because even water stings. I'm going to have to be a hermit for awhile. This is the worst.

A wax pot cools down very quickly when it isn't plugged in. What sort of time frame are we talking?

What do you want from the therapist? An apology? a refund? or compensation?

I can't understand why she didn't plug in the wax pot, it is rather confusing.

Thats awful and looks SO sore. You poor love! Definitely don't let this drop. It looks like she ripped away even after seeing that your skin didn't like it. Terrible.

My appointment was at 3 pm and she left around 4.30 pm. So 1.5 hours. I did notice it was a lot more thick later on, but please note I offered her a plug socket right next to the table and an extension, both of which she refused AND I have no beautician qualifications so I put my trust in someone who said they knew what they were doing.

I don't think she should be treating anyone in this manner and she didn't do what she said she would do (hold skin taut to ease procedure).
I also mentioned that most beauticians immediate apply pressure after the rip to ease discomfort, she had never heard of that before.

Perhaps she needs an update on her training so all her clients don't end up like me. This is going to take over 2 weeks to heal. I can't cover it up. I feel miserable and self conscious and it still all hurts. I try to speak without facial expressions because it's all tight and painful.
I managed to get some sleep last night and the migraine has eased. It's still painful to be on my side and little baby isn't happy about that either.
All I wanted was a wax from a professional and now I have to suffer the consequences for weeks. I was not offered a refund.

I believe she should be made aware of her damage and how it affects clients. But I I have not yet shown her the damage till I hear back from the claims people. Monday probably.

Attached is a hideous pic taken today.

You poor thing.
Put some sudocrem on this weekend and see a nurse on Monday about dressing it without scaring.
The rest of your skin is very clear and not blotchy at all though so hopefully that is a good thing.

Holding the skiing taut and applying pressure wouldn't have made any difference here I'm afraid. The temperature of the wax is the fault.

Of course this is on no way your fault. You offered a plug and it was refused. No more you can do there really.

If the wax is too cool it is really hard to work with as it sets on the skin and then removal is almost impossible which is why your skin was removed at the same time. It's not the technique at fault, it's way more than that.

If she had applied pressure afterwards she would have been putting her hands on open skin and possibly exposing you to infection. So be glad she didn't do that. Also I wouldn't have reduced the pain or result as the damage had already happened.

If you have a mobile number I would sent the photos to her. Most therapists work Saturdays. But show her now, and see what she says. But if you do accept a refund, I'm not sure where that leaves you if you do decide to get compensation. What advice did the solicitor give you?

Does she have a Facebook business page? maybe post a review or the photos on there.

You poor thing. Glad you've sent pics and are getting legal advice. It looks really painful. Years ago I had a perm that went wrong and despite me telling the stylist my scalp was burning she didn't rinse the solution off quickly. I had burns on my scalp and my hair has always looked a fair bit thinner in one place. She ran a salon so obviously a little easier to provide details but I was advised by a solicitor to take her to the small claims department (she wouldn't admit responsibility) and I was awarded £4,000. That was about 25 years ago. I really hope you are soon feeling less sore. .

Thank you everyone.

Windy - your explanation is so clear and obvious and I can just relive it all in my head, how gummy it was and the constant push and pulling to finally get it out before she continued on with the same wax.

The claims people have yet to get back to me since it is the weekend. But they have all the information of the incident and pictures. I will be ringing them up in Monday.

Dissonant - I am so sorry you have had a bad experience yourself. It leaves one feeling so vulnerable and rather downtrodden because we have to continue on, trying to hide the injury etc.

Good luck on Monday Itsfree. The woman who did this to you should not be carrying out waxing if she doesn't even know that it's important for the wax to be correctly heating. It's awful that this has happened to you. Really hope the worst of the pain soon wears off and it starts to heal over quickly. And I agree you can't help but feel so aware of something to do with your face.

When the wounds scab over and close get some silicone sheets to wear to prevent scarring.

Something like: www.smith-nephew.com/key-products/advanced-wound-management/cicacare

These are what plastic surgeons use to minimise scarring.

Stay out of the sun as well.

And I would definitely sue this person. What she had done is absolutely disgraceful. You poor thing.

Poor you, it looks so painful. You put your trust in a professional and you got treated so badly. Don't let her get away with it. Good luck tomorrow.

This happened to me...four days before my wedding and it was very distressing! You have my sympathy . On the advice of a family member who is a lawyer, I put together a letter outlining why I felt they had been negligent and the losses incurred. I requested £1000 compensation and asked them to respond within 14 days. If they didn't I would pursue through small claims etc. They accepted this without hesitation and paid up. No scars to speak of now, which I hope reassures, but I did have to plaster on the make-up on my wedding day 😳. Sudacrem and Dermologica healing gels were v helpful.

Wow, surely not waxing so close to eyes is the first NEVER EVER they learn.

That looks so painful, sympathies.

Poor you. Just wanted to echo the suggestion of those silicone sheets - I had surgery on my face, used these, and there is no scarring at all.

I know someone who got compensation from a beautician (completely different situation). I wouldn't contact her again until you have spoken further to the claims people. Keep taking pictures. Write down everything you can remember about what happened, without any emotive language.

Definitely second staying out of the sun. I'm prone to hyperpigmentation and that sort of damage to my skin would tan very darkly very quickly.

Fingers crossed for response tomorrow.