Photo: @victorianelsonn/Instagram
A woman named Victoria Nelson is suing celebrity facialist Sonya Dakar, claiming she suffered permanent facial scarring because of an April 2021 treatment at Dakar’s Beverly Hills studio. On Monday, Nelson posted a TikTok revealing that she had filed a complaint against Dakar with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology “with the goal of the permanent revocation of both her establishment and estheticians [sic] license,” according to her caption. She added that her legal team has filed a civil suit against Dakar on her behalf.
Nelson posted a TikTok in August claiming Dakar had applied an unknown substance to her face during a microdermabrasion Diamond Peel and light treatment that left her with severe chemical burns. In an attempt to repair the damage, Nelson said in the TikTok, she visited Dakar 40 more times over the course of the next two years, receiving services like microneedling treatments that she claims are “not covered by [Dakar’s] license.” Per the complaint, which was reviewed by The Cut, Nelson paid approximately $30,000 for follow-up appointments that failed to treat the damage.
Replying to @♥️ The update you have been asking for – we’re suing. Thank you for bearing with me as I haven’t been able to give you a clear update until now. On November 18th, the Attorney General’s office filed a complaint against Sonya Dakar with the goal of the permanent revocation of both her establishment and estheticians license. These licenses are both currently listed as active on the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology’s website, however it does flag that the AG has filed an accusation. My legal team also filed a civil suit against Sonya on my behalf. Both of the complaints are publicly available and linked in my Instagram Highlights. Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and kind 🥺I’ll continue to share what I learn throughout this process 🤍
♬ original sound – Victoria Nelson
This allegedly isn’t the first time the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology has dealt with issues relating to the facialist. According to Nelson’s complaint, the board revoked Dakar’s license in 2009 after she assaulted a board inspector by trying to bite her and pull her hair during an inspection, leading to her getting placed on probation for three years.
“After posting my video, it became clear that Sonya is just one really bad apple,” Nelson said in her TikTok about the newly filed lawsuit, which was reviewed by The Cut. She’s seeking upwards of $35,000 in damages for claims such as fraud, unlawful business practices, and unlicensed practice of medicine. “The deeper down this rabbit hole I’ve kind of gone,” Nelson said in her video, “it’s become really apparent that she may just be the tip of the iceberg of a bigger issue within this industry.”
Dakar, who has allegedly treated Gwyneth Paltrow, Leonardo DiCaprio, Fergie, and Jennifer Lawrence, has not publicly responded to the accusations or the lawsuit. The Cut has reached out to her clinic for comment and will update this post if we hear back.
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