Belo, doctor face P20-million suit for botched procedure

MANILA, Philippines - A woman based in the United States has filed a P20-million claim for damages as well as charges of negligence and reckless imprudence resulting in serious physical injury yesterday against cosmetic surgeon Victoria Belo and fellow Belo Medical Group Inc. surgeon Jennifer Sison.

Leila Palaganas alleged that a “Thermage” procedure performed by Sison on July 8, 2008 left her face badly scarred. She said she filed the lawsuit only yesterday after the advice emailed to her by the clinic failed to work.

Palaganas returned to the United States on July 21, 2008, her lawyer Arnold Naval said.

According to the website of the Belo Medical Group, thermage is a non-surgical procedure that employs a patented radiofrequency technology to tighten and gently lift skin to smooth out wrinkles and define facial contours.

Naval said that although it was Sison who performed the procedure, Belo was included in the complaint as she is the founder and director of the medical group. – Mike Frialde