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Woman Says She Believed She Was Under Physician's Care At Spa

Westlake Facility Faces Charges From State Cosmetology Board

POSTED: 4:50 pm EST February 22, 2007
UPDATED: 6:00 pm EST February 23, 2007

Sunday night, investigator Ron Regan exposed serious health risks that women need to be aware of at Bella Derm, a Westlake Spa.

Medi-spas are the fastest growing segment in the beauty industry. Now, the Westlake Police Department said it wants to hear from women who may have complaints against one of them, reported Regan.

In a follow-up to the investigation, NewsChannel5 spoke to one woman who was recently treated there.
RELATED STORY: TRO Lifted: NewsChannel5 To Air Investigation:

Susan Cervelli described a treatment she received at Bella Derm, a Westlake medi-spa.

"It hurts like hell. It was a roller, a tube, and there were needles all over it, all the way around. And they put it on your body and they roll it and it punctures the skin and it draws blood," Cervelli said.

The device is supposed to reduce cellulite and fat.

Regan: "Did any of this work?"

Cervelli: "No."

Regan: "What did you find?"

Cervelli: "A lot of disappointment."

Bella Derm is run by Richard Annabella, who appeared in an advertising supplement alongside licensed doctors and dentists.

But Annabella isn't a doctor; he's a cosmetologist.

That surprised Cervelli.

"He was wearing a white coat, so you thought he was a physician or someone, a licensed professional," she said.

While Cervelli admitted that Annabella never said he was a doctor, she trusted his company's business card that claims "the care of a physician."

She also read her contract, which stated, "I understand that the physician will rely on statements made by me to determine that the procedure is safe and effective for me."

Regan: "Did you ever see a doctor?"

Cervelli: "No, not once. Unless I was to assume that Richard was the physician. He was the only person I saw outside of Kim, who did the procedure."

Aside from Cervelli's complaint, our 5 On Your Side investigation found that Bella Derm was charged recently by the state Board of Cosmetology with providing services outside the scope of practice.

"If we go in and find someone who makes a claim that's saying, 'I can take pounds off,' or, 'We're going to do a laser technology that's going below the skin and actually removing fat cells,' or something like that, they're no longer doing cosmetological services," said Kevin Miller of the Ohio Board of Cosmetology.

Cervelli said that Bella Derm has offered to refund her money.

In response to NewsChannel5's investigation, Annabella issued the following statement:

"I emphatically disagree with the manor in which the characterizations are being made against me and my company by WEWS. We take this matter extremely seriously and feel that the findings by the state medical board and the state board of cosmetology are inconclusive. We have fully cooperated with every inquiry and will continue to do so. All complaints against us have been addressed and remedied. We stand by our services which are backed by money-back guarantees."

The State Board Of Cosmetology is planning a hearing in March where Annabella can present his side of the story.

To learn more about medi-spas, go to the American Society of Plastic Surgeon's Web site.

Complaints can be reported to the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology and the Ohio State Medical Board.

The Westlake Police Department has also opened an investigation of Bella Derm. You can report complaints to them by calling 440-871-3311.





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