Courts

Woman awarded €125,000 over burns suffered after laser treatment

Judge says complainant’s sense of suffering compounded by lack of aftercare from Dundrum Cosmetic Clinic

The woman said she paid €1,500 for three laser treatments for thread veins in her face, hair removal on her legs and for a mark on her chest. Photograph: iStock
The woman said she paid €1,500 for three laser treatments for thread veins in her face, hair removal on her legs and for a mark on her chest. Photograph: iStock
Fri Feb 07 2025 - 17:02

A woman who ended up with burns on her leg and scars on her chest and face following laser treatment has been awarded €125,000 by a High Court judge.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was very clear to him the woman’s sense of suffering was compounded by the fact there was no aftercare offered by Dundrum Cosmetic Clinic 10 years ago.

He said he was satisfied the woman, who cannot be named by order of the court, suffered a very serious injury as a result of the laser treatment carried out in May 2015 and that it affected her confidence, lifestyle and appearance.

The 58-year old woman had sued Amber Cosmetic Ltd, with registered offices at Churchtown, Dublin, which at the time carried on business as Dundrum Cosmetic Clinic at Dundrum, Dublin.

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Judgment had previously been granted against Amber Cosmetic Ltd in default of appearance and the case was before the court for assessment of damages only.

Opening the case, the woman’s senior counsel, Barney Quirke, told the court she now faces a lifetime of treatment and discomfort and the impact on her of the laser treatment has been huge.

In evidence the woman said she had paid €1,500 for three laser treatments for thread veins in her face, hair removal on her legs and for a mark on her chest.

She said she was told to expect mild discomfort but as the technician worked on her leg with the laser she said the pain was excruciating.

“The pain was getting worse and worse. My leg was very badly burnt,” she said.

She said she went back to the clinic the next day and believed “they didn’t care” and that she was being “completely dismissed by the company”.

She said they offered her aloe vera gel but she ended up on painkillers for a year. In 2019, she went to a dermatologist and now has annual laser treatment for her injuries.

She said she always had lovely fresh skin but after the treatment it was “red angry”, blotchy and itchy.

Mr Justice Coffey said the woman had given unchallenged evidence that when the laser was applied there was excessive heat and as a result she suffered very serious burn injuries.

He said the woman had been gifted by nature with a beautiful complexion and now has to wear layers of make-up and her skin around the chest area is itchy and blotchy.