Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

This woman whose face was badly burned during a laser facelift when the beautician was not paying attention and arguing with her boyfriend on the phone has received just GBP 195 in compensation to be paid over 10 instalments.

Asli Ilhan, 42, who lives in the district of Muratpasa in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, went to the beauty salon for laser treatment on 2nd November 2020.

During the second session at the salon, owned by the defendant named only as A. A., she allegedly started to argue with her lover on the phone while performing the treatment.

Ilhan said while the argument was going on, she began to feel her face burning.

After returning home with a sore face, Ilhan went to the pharmacy and bought creams to alleviate the stinging sensation, which later turned into shocking burns.

Ilhan immediately filed a complaint against the owner, claiming that her emotional state took a turn for the worst after the incident and that no one should be fooled by the number of Instagram followers the salons have.

Stating that she will never go to a beauty salon again, Ilhan said: “People sometimes make mistakes, but I paid a high price for my mistake.

“I am facing a bigger problem than saggy skin now. I have a lot of trouble with the marks on my face. I feel awful.”

The criminal case at the 24th Criminal Court of First Instance ruled that the owner of the beauty salon, A. A., should pay a TRY 3,360 (GBP 195), fine over 10 equal instalments.

Speaking to the media after the decision, the victim’s lawyer Suleyman Kesici said: “The court issued a penalty of TRY 3,360 and this penalty will be paid in 10 instalments. We think this decision is not enough. We think that the penalty for burning a person’s face in a way that leaves obvious marks is not a judicial fine. We have made our objections.”

Ilhan said: “Not only was my face badly burned, but I had a lot of psychological distress during this period as well. The pain I’ve suffered in one year will be compensated with a small fine paid over 10 instalments. I absolutely do not accept this decision.”

She has also demanded her money back from another beauty salon which claimed it could help fix the problem, but she claims only made it worse.

It is unclear if she is taking legal action against the second clinic, in addition to demanding a refund.