Woman Says Bizarre Drugs Nearly Killed Her

HOUSTON (CN) - A beauty salon injected a woman with chemicals "for fast and targeted weight loss," but they gave her an infection that nearly killed her, the customer claims in court.

Maria M. Burgos sued Dulce M. Jimenez, individually and dba A & C Hair Designs, and Denise C. Lorenzen in Harris County Court.

Burgos says she went to Jimenez's salon for a haircut and manicure in June.

"Plaintiff was persuaded to undergo a process known as 'Mesotherapy' for fast and targeted weight loss that was to be brought about through the injection of certain chemicals into her skin," the complaint states. "Plaintiff received multiple injections in her hip, pelvic and lower back areas.

"Unfortunately, plaintiff did not lose any weight but nearly lost her life and sanity due to her body's reaction to the unknown chemicals injected into her body by defendants."

Burgos seeks punitive damages, lost wages and medical expenses for negligence and unauthorized practice of medicine.

She is represented by Mehran "Mike" Talabi of Houston.

Jimenez told Courthouse News she had nothing to do with Burgos' treatment.

She said a woman named Kathy Wilson who was renting space in her salon administered the chemicals.

"All I do is beautician work, no injections or nothing like that," Jimenez said in a telephone interview.

Six or seven people were sickened by Wilson's weight-loss injection therapy, Jimenez said.

"Basically she really messed up a lot of people," Jimenez said. "They started getting bumps all over their bodies. The Texas State Medical Board has already contacted those people. But I'm pretty sure Kathy is working somewhere else right now and doing the same thing somewhere else."

A spokesman for the state medical board said he cannot discuss pending investigations.

Wilson is not mentioned in Burgos's lawsuit.

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