The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia is taking action against two siblings for their alleged involvement in a cosmetic filler procedure that led to a client’s physical disfigurement.
Jeeti Virk, a former Miss Universe Canada contestant, and her sister Rajan Virk are accused of operating multiple businesses in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland through Instagram. They advertised body-contouring services aimed at enhancing lip and buttock size with dermal fillers, as per a petition filed in British Columbia Supreme Court by the college.
Court documents highlight that the Virk sisters lack the necessary licenses to perform procedures such as botox and dermal fillers. They have not responded to the filed petition or a lawsuit by a former client who experienced deformities from their services and required hospital treatment.
The lawsuit accuses the Virks of negligence and misleading the client by falsely claiming they were qualified to conduct a buttock injection procedure using dermal fillers. The sisters did not contest the lawsuit, resulting in a default judgment requiring them to compensate the client for damages of an unspecified sum.
According to the college’s petition, the client engaged with Rajan and Jeeti Virk via Instagram to inquire about body-contouring services. She agreed to pay $14,500 for 2,000 milliliters of dermal filler for buttock augmentation. Before the procedure, Rajan advised the client to obtain antibiotics by complaining of a toothache from a physician post-procedure.
During the injections, Rajan informed the client that she needed an additional 200 milliliters of dermal filler, costing an extra $1,300, which the client agreed to. The filler used, known as Avanescence, is not approved for use in Canada, according to Health Canada.
Following the procedure, the client experienced leakage of a “blood-tinged gelatinous fluid” from a puncture site, along with feeling unwell and having difficulty standing. When the client contacted the Virks, Rajan sent superglue via UberEats from a nearby store to seal the puncture hole.
After multiple hospital visits due to swelling, pain, and additional fluid leakage from puncture sites, medical examinations confirmed the leakage was filler and fat necrosis. Jeeti Virk administered a dissolving agent to break down the dermal filler during a subsequent hospital visit.
Rajan Virk offered a partial refund of $1,600, which the client declined, blocking further contact with the Virks on social media. The client faced over a month of leaking puncture holes post-injections and continues to endure bodily deformities.
Licensed professionals such as physicians, registered nurses, naturopathic doctors, and dentists (for Botox) are permitted to administer botox and dermal fillers under the authority of respective regulatory bodies in British Columbia, according to the B.C. Ministry of Health.
Parveen Sangha, a licensed nurse practitioner and medical director at Promethean Clinic, emphasized the risks associated with improper filler injections, including artery blockages, tissue death, blindness, infection, and scarring. Qualified injectors should be able to diagnose complications, prescribe medication, and refer patients to specialists if necessary.
Court records indicate that the Virk sisters utilized various Instagram accounts like Injector Barbie, Harmany Beauty, and Harmany Body Lounge for promoting their services. Similar accounts in the Lower Mainland were found using comparable marketing materials, offering training in cosmetic injection techniques.
Sangha stressed the importance of thorough consultations, medical history reviews, discussion of possible complications, and signed consent forms by licensed providers to ensure client safety. She cautioned against self-proclaimed “expert injectors” on social media platforms.