Beauty parlour to pay Rs 5 lakh to Chennai woman who lost earlobes to acidic 'herbal mix'

Soon after applying ‘herbal mix’, Jayanthi began to feel a burning sensation. The parlour staff reassured her that it was part of the process. (AI-generated image)

A consumer court in Chennai has ordered a beauty parlour in Arumbakkam to pay Rs 5 lakh in compensation to a makeup artist who lost both her earlobes after undergoing ‘herbal treatment’ at the facility.

The district consumer disputes redressal commission (Chennai North) last month ordered the parlour owner to pay the woman 5 lakh compensation, along with 5,000 towards litigation expenses after finding the parlour guilty of negligence and deficiency in service.

'Herbal' treatment for Rs 2,000
The makeup artist, identified as V Jayanthi from Arumbakkam, visited Abbe Herbal Beauty Parlour, run by one Akilandeshwari, seeking to reduce the size of her enlarged ear piercings in March 2023, as per Times of India. She had also paid Rs 2,000 for the procedure.

Soon after applying ‘herbal mix’, Jayanthi began to feel a burning sensation. The parlour staff reassured her that it was part of the process. When she returned on their advice, they applied more chemicals and wrapped the earlobes in plaster.

Days later, she noticed a foul smell, and by the end of a month, her earlobes were torn and barely attached. She told the commission that the disfigurement had deeply affected her confidence and her work, adding that even her young child avoided her due to her altered appearance, the report added.

She said the condition affected her ability to move freely in society and significantly reduced her earning capacity.

Corosive acid, not herbal: Doctors

Medical examinations later revealed that the substance used contained trichloroacetic acid, a corrosive chemical. Surgeons at Apollo Hospitals, Vanagaram, had to remove both earlobes in August 2023 to prevent further infection. The doctors confirmed that the mixture was not herbal but highly acidic in nature.

Jayanthi claimed that the parlour had promised to bear the cost of plastic surgery but later withdrew support. She then issued them a legal notice, which drew an evasive reply from the opposite party, the report added.

The commission, in its order dated September 24, observed that Akilandeshwari had no medical authority to perform such procedures and relied on findings from a police chargesheet filed under Section 338 of the Indian Penal Code (causing grievous hurt). It held that the parlour’s actions were negligent and directly responsible for Jayanthi’s injuries.