The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. is taking action against two sisters for their alleged involvement in a cosmetic-filler operation that led to a client suffering physical deformities. Jeeti Virk, a former Miss Universe Canada contestant, and her sister Rajan Virk are accused of operating multiple businesses in B.C.’s Lower Mainland through Instagram, promoting body-contouring services designed to enhance lip and buttock size using dermal filler. The college filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court stating that the Virks lack the required licenses for procedures like botox and dermal fillers and have not contested the allegations in court.
The sisters are also facing a lawsuit from a former client who detailed her experience in the college’s petition. The client reported sustaining deformities from the services provided by the Virks, necessitating hospital treatment. Allegations in the lawsuit include claims of negligence and false representation by the sisters, who purportedly misrepresented their qualifications for a procedure involving dermal filler injections into the client’s buttocks. The Virks did not respond to the lawsuit, leading to a default judgment instructing them to compensate the client for damages of an unspecified sum.
As per the college’s petition, the client engaged with Rajan and Jeeti Virk via Instagram to inquire about body-contouring services, agreeing to pay $14,500 for 2,000 millilitres of dermal filler to be administered into her buttocks for volume enhancement. Prior to the procedure, Rajan advised the client to obtain antibiotics by complaining of a toothache to a physician to use post-procedure. During the injections, Rajan informed the client of the need for an additional 200 millilitres of filler, costing an extra $1,300, which the client accepted. The filler used, known as Avanescence, is not approved for use by Health Canada.
Following the procedure, the client experienced leakage of a “blood-tinged gelatinous fluid” from a puncture site, feeling unwell and struggling to stand. The client reached out to the Virks for assistance, with Rajan allegedly sending superglue through UberEats from a nearby 7-Eleven to seal the puncture. Subsequent hospital visits revealed complications, including fat necrosis from dying fat cells and the need for medical intervention to address the issues caused by the procedure.
After a series of hospital visits and dissolving treatments administered by Jeeti Virk, the client was left with ongoing bodily deformities. Despite an offer of a partial refund by Rajan Virk, the client declined and ceased communication with the sisters on social media. The entire process took over a month for the leakage to cease, with lasting effects on the client’s physical well-being.
According to the B.C. Ministry of Health, botox and dermal fillers should only be administered by licensed professionals regulated by specific governing bodies to ensure safety and competence in the procedures. Parveen Sangha, a licensed nurse practitioner and medical director, emphasized the risks associated with improper filler injections, highlighting potential severe consequences such as tissue damage, blindness, infection, and scarring. Sangha stressed the importance of qualified providers who can assess, diagnose, and manage complications arising from cosmetic procedures.
Court documents indicated that the Virk sisters utilized various Instagram accounts to promote their services, including Injector Barbie, Harmany Beauty, and Harmany Body Lounge. Similar accounts were found in the Lower Mainland using comparable marketing materials and offering training in cosmetic injection techniques. Sangha emphasized the significance of thorough consultations and informed consent processes conducted by licensed providers, cautioning against unqualified individuals posing as experts on social media platforms.