I see a gargoyle in the mirror: a woman accuses a pseudo-doctor of unsuccessful procedures (3 photos)
Andrea, 60, from the UK, said that after unsuccessful cosmetic procedures with fillers, her face has changed beyond recognition. The woman says that now she looks "like a gargoyle" and even hides her face when going out because she is afraid of ridicule. 
The cosmetic clinic where Andrea underwent the procedures had serious violations. They were carried out by Sean Scott, a former tattoo artist who posed as a doctor.
"I see a gargoyle in the mirror... It's horrible, it's disgusting. I live in a nightmare every day," the woman says.
Andrea went to Reshape U in Hull in December 2021 to have fillers in her breasts. The woman trusted the clinic after seeing an advert on its website, which touted it as "Yorkshire's best cosmetic surgery 2022". Her surgeon, Scott, called himself "Dr Sean Scott, Clinical Director" on his nameplate and on social media. However, an investigation revealed he had no medical qualifications. The man admitted he had bought an "honorary" doctorate online and used it to mislead clients. 
Over 10 months, Andrea spent thousands of pounds on cosmetic procedures including fillers, Botox and threads. During more than 30 appointments with Mr Scott, she claims the reactions from the treatments only got worse. After selling her jewellery and borrowing money to pay for the treatment, she was admitted to hospital in October 2022, barely able to open her eyes.
It turned out that her complications were likely the result of an infection, which can occur during cosmetic procedures, although it is usually caused by an inappropriate environment or poor technique. Experts say it is rare to see such a situation in a professional with clean conditions.
Experts have repeatedly called for stricter regulations in the beauty industry. Although the UK government has been given powers to introduce licensing for beauty treatments since 2022, no concrete measures have been taken yet.
Andrea continues to struggle with the after-effects of the procedures, both psychological and physical. She says she would never have such procedures again and would not recommend them to others. 
