A cosmetic clinic in Belo Horizonte has been ordered to compensate a client after she suffered first- and second-degree burns during a laser hair removal session, the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais (TJMG) confirmed. The decision highlights the legal responsibility of aesthetic clinics to ensure the safety of the services they provide.
The ruling, issued by the 11th Civil Chamber of TJMG, came after the clinic appealed a lower court decision that found it liable for errors in the cosmetic procedure, despite the client having signed a consent form. The court partially reduced material damages but upheld the conviction, emphasizing that informed consent does not absolve a provider of its technical duties.
According to court documents, the victim testified that the procedure caused severe injuries to her intimate area, requiring medical care and resulting in time off work. Judges determined that the burns exceeded typical side effects and reflected a clear failure in the execution of the laser treatment.
The court initially ordered the clinic to pay R$ 22,900 for material damages, R$ 20,000 for aesthetic damages, R$ 10,000 for moral damages, and R$ 4,800 for lost profits, covering medical expenses as well as the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of the incident. Some amounts were later adjusted following the appeal.
Judge Rui de Almeida Magalhães, the case’s rapporteur, stressed that “medical evidence and photos show that the injuries were more severe than expected and constitute significant burns.” He reinforced that generic consent forms do not release clinics from their obligation to protect clients’ safety.
The unanimous decision, supported by Justices Mônica Libânio Rocha Bretas and Marcelo Pereira da Silva, underlines an emerging judicial stance: even minimally invasive aesthetic procedures demand technical precision, professional training, and strict safety protocols.
The case serves as both a warning to aesthetic clinics and a reminder to consumers. Clinics must adhere to high standards of care, while patients should seek qualified professionals and report any malpractice.
