CLEVELAND -- Medical spas promise to make people look younger, but according to NewsChannel5 investigator Ron Regan the booming industry can put women in serious danger.

Kevin Miller runs the state Board of Cosmetology.

"People are looking to make a buck. And let's face it, everybody wants to look good. Everybody wants to feel good," Miller said.

Regan's undercover investigation exposed the fastest-growing segment in the beauty business, known as medical spas or medi-spas.

There are at least 4,500 across the country, with many of them in northeast Ohio.

"Probably some of the more serious ones that we've seen are individuals who are making medical claims who are not medical doctors," Miller said.

State regulators warn that some of the spas are making phony claims.

"Things like, 'Oh, it will help your arthritis. It will reduce inches in your waistline.' Things like that," Miller said.

The medi-spa in Westlake was recently investigated by state inspectors, Regan reported.

Bella Derm was operated by Richard Annebella. He posed in an advertising supplement that included licensed doctors and dentists.

Annebella is not a doctor, he's a cosmetologist. According to a state inspection report, Bella Derm was charged with providing services outside the scope of practice.

"The medical board investigator, as well as our investigator, went in together and really found some troubling things there," Miller said.

The state is investigating Bella Derm for allegedly allowing a cosmetologist to provide medical services and allegedly allowing nurses to do medical practices with no doctor supervision, Regan reported.

Regan reported that women can pay a high price when things go wrong.

A safety advisory was just issued by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

"Patients can be scarred. They can develop abnormal pigmentation. They can develop irreversible damage," Dr. Michael Wojtanowski said.

Consumers have expressed concern following the safety advisory.

"I wouldn't let them touch me. I wouldn't. Too much can go wrong, and what do they have to fall back on? A cosmetology license," one consumer said.

In Ohio, state regulators have a warning for cosmetologists and medi-spas.

"If you're doing something that's penetrating the skin, you're crossing the line," Wojtanowski said.

Regan contacted Bella Derm twice about the violations state inspectors reported finding but were told that Annabella was unavailable due to his busy schedule.

A representative did e-mail, saying, "We are taking this matter very seriously and it remains inconclusive."

Next month, Bella Derm faces the state board of cosmetology to respond to the charges.

Regan compiled a list of important questions to ask before choosing a medi-spa. Click here for the list.