NSW Health warns clients of an unregistered Five Dock cosmetic practitioner to see their doctor for blood tests

06 July 2016
NSW Health is urging people who had cosmetic treatments at a Five Dock business run by Ms Pu Liu, also known as Mabel Liu, to see their GP for blood tests because of the risk of infections for blood borne viruses. 

Ms Liu has been performing cosmetic procedures in a residential apartment at 14/239 Great North Road, Five Dock.

Ms Liu is not a medical practitioner registered in Australia and the number of clients and the time period over which Ms Liu has been offering services is unclear.

Following a complaint from a client, the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), NSW Health Pharmaceutical Regulatory Unit (PRU) and public health officers attended the apartment where they found Ms Liu was performing cosmetic procedures.

Officers found injectable drugs not approved for use in Australia and evidence of poor infection control.

The HCCC has issued an order to Ms Liu prohibiting her from:
  • ​Providing any cosmetic and medical procedures, including any cosmetic surgery that involves cutting beneath the skin and any cosmetic medical procedure that involves piercing the skin.
  • Possessing any Schedule 4 drugs for cosmetic use including botulinum toxin (Botox) and hyaluronic acid injection preparations (dermal fillers).

NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said clients of Ms Liu should seek the advice of their GP.

“Client records are not available from Ms Liu to identify people at risk, so we are urging anyone who used her services to see their GP for advice and to seek tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV as a precaution,” Dr Chant said. 

There was a risk of contamination of equipment and medications because of poor hygiene and lack of sterilisation of equipment used on clients. There is an increased risk of transmission of viruses and other infection.

“An infection may not present with symptoms right away, so the only way to know if you are at risk is to have a blood test.”

Blood tests are readily available through GPs. Early diagnosis is important to help assess whether people need treatment, which these days is highly effective for blood borne viruses. 

Dr Chant urged people who are considering having minor cosmetic procedures to check the practitioner’s credentials before undergoing treatment.

She said procedures such as double eyelid suturing and injections under the skin presented serious health risks when performed poorly.

“Cosmetic procedures performed by unregistered practitioners pose dangerous health risks, especially when performed with unapproved imported medications and in facilities with poor infection control measures. 

We strongly advise people who are considering undergoing a cosmetic procedure to undertake careful research. They should visit only practitioners registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.” 

Last week the HCCC warned that cosmetic services were being offered by unregistered practitioners through social media sites such as WeChat, a popular platform in the Chinese community.

For more information, including a fact sheet and Q&As, use this link to the NSW Health website:  www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/cosmetic-procedures.aspx​ 

If you have undergone a procedure with a poor outcome or have concerns about a practitioner, call the Health Care Complaints Commission on 1800 043 159. Visit www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx​ to look up registered practitioners.
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