KUALA LUMPUR - All she wanted was a fairer and radiant skin. But what she got were burns and a permanent scar on her face.

To top it off, she claimed that the beauty centre she went to for her treatment had sent her a lawyer's letter threatening to sue her for defamation if she decided to lodge a complaint with the authorities.

The 45-year-old Thai national, who only wanted to be known as Chao, had signed up for a five-step laser treatment which costs RM4,500 (S$1,845) at the centre in Kluang, Johor, in January.

She was then persuaded to undergo a laser treatment along with her facial treatment.

After the fifth treatment, Chao noticed burn marks on her nose and cheeks and was offered two more laser treatments at no cost.

She also discovered that the laser treatments had caused inflammatory hyper-pigmentation, which by then had permanently scarred her face.

"The centre refused to reimburse me. They then slapped me with the lawyer's letter," she said at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department here yesterday.

Chao also claimed that she and her Malaysian husband were threatened at their home in Kluang by the husband of the beautician who attended to her at the centre.

They have since filed a complaint under the Consumer Claims Tribunal.

Department head Datuk Michael Chong said he would wait until next week for the next course of action by the tribunal.