Bride-to-Be Left with Disfigured Face After Microneedling Treatment at Beauty Salon

A woman preparing for her wedding has been left with a severely disfigured face after undergoing a microneedling skin treatment at a beauty salon she had trusted for two years.

Ms. Zhang, a bride-to-be, sought the popular procedure in hopes of achieving flawless skin for her pre-wedding photoshoot in Japan. Her regular beautician recommended the microneedling treatment, assuring her that it would regenerate her skin and leave her complexion smooth and glowing in time for the photos scheduled the following Sunday.

The treatment involved using a cordless electric microneedle pen to inject serums and essences deep into the skin. During the session, Ms. Zhang experienced stinging and numbness, especially around her neck, but the therapist reassured her that everything was normal.

The next morning, however, her face and neck became extremely red and severely swollen, covered with dense white pus-filled bumps. Despite following the salon’s advice to apply moisturizers and masks, her condition worsened rapidly. Her eyes swelled almost shut, severely affecting her vision, while the swelling and pus on her neck made breathing difficult.

Ms. Zhang later described her face as looking “rotten” and “pitted,” saying she could not bear to look at herself in the mirror and was afraid to leave her home without wearing a mask.

A general practitioner diagnosed her with a severe skin infection and administered steroid and antibiotic injections, along with oral medication. Medical expenses have already reached approximately £938 (HKD 10,000).

As a result, her Japan photoshoot was cancelled. Two weeks after the treatment, the swelling persisted, and her skin remained too damaged for makeup, threatening her year-end wedding plans.

Ms. Zhang is seeking compensation for lost wages, trip expenses, and ongoing medical costs, reportedly claiming a total of around £4,194 (HKD 44,720).

The salon initially dismissed her symptoms as a normal reaction, claiming the whiteheads were caused by insufficient moisture. During negotiations, the beautician’s husband allegedly became rude, accused her of “chasing money,” and denied any responsibility. The salon claimed strict disinfection protocols were followed and that new disposable needles were used.

Compensation talks collapsed after the salon offered only £1,876 (HKD 20,000), an amount Ms. Zhang rejected as insufficient to cover her losses. Feeling threatened, she reported the matter to the police. The salon has also filed a police report and contacted the Consumer Council, maintaining that they had warned her about possible redness and that she chose to proceed.

Ms. Zhang continues to receive follow-up medical treatment, with the full recovery timeline still uncertain. She has expressed deep feelings of betrayal after being a loyal customer for two years and now fears her skin may not fully heal in time for her wedding at the end of the year.