'I paid fake doctor thousands for fillers - now I look like a gargoyle'

In December 2023, Andrea, a 60-year-old woman, had a troubling experience after receiving face fillers at a cosmetics clinic in Hull. Following her treatments, she struggled to open her eyes and experienced significant swelling around her cheeks. Andrea described her appearance as resembling a 'gargoyle,' which left her feeling distressed. For the past two years, she has felt the need to cover her face when going out, fearing that others would mock her. Andrea initially visited the Reshape U cosmetics clinic in Hull in December 2021 to get breast fillers. She believed she had done her homework by checking the clinic's reputation and felt reassured after reading on their website that they had won the title of 'Best Aesthetics Clinic in Yorkshire' at the England Business Awards in 2022. During her visit, she was treated by Sean Scott, who was referred to as 'Dr. Sean Scott' on social media. However, a BBC investigation revealed that Mr. Scott was not a qualified medical doctor. He admitted to purchasing a fake doctorate in business consultancy online and displaying the certificate in his clinic. He claimed that he did not present himself as a medical doctor and insisted that he informed clients who inquired about his qualifications that he was not medically trained. After receiving advice from Hull City Council in 2024, he ceased using the misleading title. Andrea placed her trust in Mr. Scott, believing he was knowledgeable about the procedures. She stated that he prescribed antibiotics after her first breast filler procedure and again after her second one. However, only licensed healthcare professionals are allowed to prescribe antibiotics and Botox. Mr. Scott contended that he did not prescribe these medications himself but instead obtained them through a registered prescriber with an authorized pharmacy. Two months after her breast fillers, Andrea claimed that Mr. Scott encouraged her to undergo facial fillers. Dermal fillers are injections of hyaluronic acid used to fill wrinkles and add volume to the face. Andrea alleged that Mr. Scott suggested her cheeks were 'uneven' and that he could help 'harmonize' her appearance. After receiving fillers in her cheeks, chin, and jaw, Andrea's face began to swell, and dark marks appeared. What was initially presented as a simple procedure quickly turned into a series of botched treatments. Andrea claimed that Mr. Scott attributed the swelling to an insect bite and urged her to pursue additional treatments. Mr. Scott strongly denied these allegations, asserting that they never performed any procedures while clients exhibited signs of swelling, bruising, or other side effects. He maintained that Andrea's initial complaints were merely about her dissatisfaction with the results, which led to her having numerous follow-up appointments. Over the course of ten months, Andrea had more than 30 appointments with Mr. Scott, which included fillers, Botox, and other treatments. She sold jewelry and borrowed money to finance these procedures, which ultimately cost her thousands of pounds. Unfortunately, her condition continued to deteriorate, and in October 2022, she found herself in the hospital, struggling to open her eyes. Letters from plastic surgeons indicated that her adverse reactions were linked to the cosmetic procedures she had undergone. A cosmetics expert who later examined Andrea suggested that her scarring was likely the result of an infection, which can occur after cosmetic procedures but is rare when performed in a clean environment with proper techniques. The BBC has learned of at least three other complaints against Mr. Scott regarding his use of a fake qualification. Two of these complaints were made to a registered practitioner service called Save Face. The director of Save Face, Ashton Collins, stated that individuals who reported Mr. Scott's 'bad practice' had chosen him under the impression that he was a qualified doctor. Health and safety officers from Hull City Council visited Mr. Scott's clinic in 2024 after concerns were raised about his credentials. The council found several issues that required improvement, but no formal action was taken because the business was cooperative in addressing the concerns.