Charge beautician’s treatments illegal

The owner of a Flushing beauty salon was arrested and charged with practicing medicine without a license after two clients who allegedly received cosmetic treatments there claimed that they were horribly disfigured.
The owner of Altiva Temple of Beauty and Renewal, located at 43-30 147th Street, Patricia Villegas, 53, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday, March 6 on charges of assault, unauthorized practice of medicine, scheme to defraud and reckless endangerment. Villegas allegedly injected her clients’ faces with silicone, a practice that is legal only for licensed physicians.
On its website, the Altiva spa claims to offer botox, titan and mesotherapy, among other services.
One of the alleged victims, 31-year-old Jacqueline Bonnen of Fresh Meadows, was treated for wrinkles and “hollows” beneath her eyes in 2002 and 2003. Months later, she began to suffer from infections and underwent several surgeries to expel the silicone from her face. A doctor’s visit had uncovered that Bonnen was injected with silicone instead of the cortisone, collagen and Restylane - products Villegas told her were being used.
The other victim remained unidentified by prosecutors.
According to published reports, Villegas’ lawyer, Jose Reyes, said the only one who conducted injections was Villegas’ brother, Pablo, alleged to be a medical doctor, who owns the Altiva clinic with his sister.
“There is no proof,” said Reyes. “They are harassing her because there is no probable cause to arrest her except an allegation by a young lady who has been harassing her for two years.”
The Altiva website states, “Women come to her [Villegas] feeling tired, frazzled or old, and they walk away feeling Rested, looking Beautiful, and with Renewed Energy.”
Villegas faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, according to the Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.