Here’s the catch:  MedAesthetica performs LipoZap procedures on clients seeking to shed body bulges. At least some who undergo one or more treatments endure physical pain, swelling, and bruising, and at least as much mental anguish at the hands of the company’s customer service department--even if they can never contact it.  They would have to conclude that treatment wasn’t all for nothing, though, because they’ve certainly lost any bulge they had in their pocketbook.

MedAesthetica’s website claims that LipoZap is a “combination therapy” developed by their clinicians.  One client describes her treatment as the use of a suction machine, then a lot of injections after warming the area.  Other sources add that what is injected is a combination of medications that will cause fat to breakdown, emulsify, and be excreted out of the body.

Designed to be “the most effective nonsurgical fat bulge reduction treatment using the best and latest technology from around the world,” MedAesthetica says they also “spent a tremendous amount of time, effort, and resources to make it virtually painless and with minimal to no downtime.”

Although we don’t know just how the company advertises, we do know that they charge from $2,000 to $6,000 for a series of treatments and that complainants say they were told they could cancel treatment for any reason and get a refund.

But those who discontinue treatment don’t get their money back easily, if at all.  One client who was told results would be noticeable after four treatments but whose measurements hadn’t changed at all after eight, says they would not refund her “a cent,” despite the money-back guarantee.  “I had to go through eight painful procedures for nothing,” she says.

A Sherman Oaks complainant who cancelled because of adverse reaction to the treatment says they talked her into a second treatment, and when that didn’t work, convinced her to agree to noninvasive VelaSmooth treatments.  (VelaSmooth is a device that uses vacuum suction and mechanical roller massage to reduce cellulite.)  When 10 such treatments did not result in improvement, she emailed in the required refund request form and was told she would get a response in four to six weeks.  After three and one-half months, she called and was told that refunds were handled by the corporate office and that the company had no way of contacting them other than the same email she was using.

“When I voiced my concerns, I started getting the runaround,” says a Huntington Beach client.  “. . . the LipoZap treatment . . . is a farce.  They took almost $3,000 of my hard-earned dollars, promising results, and now they won’t respond to my concerns.”

Although the company’s response to a number of complaints is that they will make a refund, only one complainant of the 30 who have complained has confirmed receiving her refund.

Pain?  Swelling?  Bruising?  Not all clients would agree with MedAesthetica’s claims of “virtually painless” treatment with “minimal to no downtime.”  “. . . painful injections, burning sensations for days, swelling, bruising, and itching . . .” says one.  “I was so swollen I couldn’t fit into my pants and was in major pain the next day,” says another.  One complainant who received only a test injection experienced “nausea, vomiting and diarrhea over a five-day period and was forced to miss work. . . .” “I can’t imagine enduring one full treatment,” she says.  “I think it could be fatal.”

Though complaints include descriptions like these, the descriptions seem to be included primarily to support their request to get their money back.

Kim’s advice:  Don’t get caught.  Here are some things you should keep in mind if you’re interested in medical spa services:

• Put your safety first.  Procedures such as LipoZap must be performed either by a medical doctor or by a registered nurse or physician’s assistant under a doctor’s supervision.  Check the credentials of the person who’s going to treat you.
  
• Realize that each person is unique and will likely respond differently to the treatments.  If you’re told your treatment should be completed in, say, four sessions, find out what extra sessions will cost if they’re required.
  
• Though you’re dealing with medical personnel and procedures, don’t forget the business aspect, such as the guarantee and the customer service.  Get a reliability report from the Better Business Bureau before you do business.  In this case, you’d learn that MedAesthetica has earned an “F” rating from us, that complainants say the company doesn’t deliver what it promises and doesn’t honor its guarantee, and that clients are unable to get assistance once they’ve paid.
  
• Read your contract.  Don’t accept verbal promises unless they’re also in your written contract.
  
• If you decide to do business with a company such as MedAesthetica, pay by credit card if you possibly can.  If you don’t get what you were promised, dispute the charges within the time required.  Or, find out if you can pay for each treatment as you go along.  Otherwise, even though you could have an adverse reaction to a treatment and have to discontinue it, you will probably still be liable for the entire amount you agreed to pay in the beginning.

Kim Burge is the Better Business Bureau's Director of Trade Practices.