Woman claims celebrity facialist left her permanently scarred

Victoria Nelson, a woman from California, has publicly accused celebrity aesthetician Sonya Dakar of permanently scarring her face following a chemical peel treatment in 2021.

In a TikTok video that has since gone viral, Nelson describes the procedure as a traumatic experience that led to visible facial burns.

Nelson claims that during the treatment, she experienced an immediate burning sensation and noticed her skin turning white, indicating burns.

Despite undergoing 30 follow-up treatments with Dakar and additional procedures with other professionals, Nelson reports that the damage remains.

She estimates spending approximately $90,000 in total on treatments in an attempt to repair the scarring.

Further complicating the situation, Nelson alleges that the substance used during the chemical peel may have been medical-grade, which aestheticians are not authorized to use under California's Board of Barbering and Cosmetology guidelines.

Additionally, she claims that microneedling treatments performed to address the burns were outside Dakar's licensure scope.

Consulting a dermatologist in 2022, Nelson was advised that Dakar should have referred her to a burn specialist.

Despite filing a formal complaint with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Nelson reports that there has been no resolution in her case.

This incident has drawn attention to the importance of understanding the scope of practice for aestheticians and the potential risks associated with cosmetic procedures.

Nelson hopes her story serves as a cautionary tale for others considering similar treatments.