PUTRAJAYA - Victims of botched cosmetic procedures can still claim even if the operators have a non-refund policy.

The Tribunal for Consumer Claims said it could determine if the contract signed had unfair terms or the treatment performed was unsatisfactory.

Its chairman Reihana Abd Razak noted there had been cases where consumers kept silent after errant operators refused to attend to their complaints following failed treatments costing several thousands of ringgit.

"The number of beauty-related cases filed with the tribunal increased from 74 in 2005 to 445 last year," she said.

From January to April this year, 90 cases were filed, indicating a downward trend, Reihana added.

The complaints involved face, hair, body and weight loss treatments while those with severe injuries usually take their case to court.

"Most cases were related to acne, pigmentation and bleaching treatments.

"There were some cases of tattooed black eye brows turning green after a few years, total loss of eye brows after laser treatment to thicken them and burns following pigmentation laser treatment," she said.

The MCA Public Services and Complaints Department recently highlighted that a 39-year-old woman suffered second-degree burns on her private parts after going through a pubic hair removal treatment.

Society for Anti Aging, Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine Malaysia president Dr Selvaraj Y. Subramaniam said almost all who sought treatment after a botched procedure did not lodge complaints with the authorities, possibly due to embarrassment.

Recently, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said guidelines on cosmetic procedures would be introduced soon to protect consumers.