Find Spa Owner Guilty Of Clients Illegally

Patricia Villegas An esthetician who ran a spa out of her Flushing home has been convicted of unlawfully practicing medicine and endangering the lives of two women she provided with cosmetic injections, it was announced.

The women suffered infections and facial disfigurement as a result of the treatments.

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said that Patricia Villegas, 54, of 147th Street in Flushing was convicted last Wednesday, Oct. 15 following a jury trial of seconddegree assault, unauthorized practice of a profession, first-degree scheme to defraud, second-degree reckless endangerment and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Buchter immediately revoked the defendant's bail upon receiving the verdict and set sentencing for Villegas for Nov. 7. She faces up to 14 years in prison.

The district attorney said that Villegas served as president of Altiva New York, Temple of Beauty and Renewal, which was located at her home address and at a suite on York Avenue in Manhattan.

According to trial testimony, while providing facial treatments to two women at the Altiva Spa in Flushing, Villegas told them that she could administer facial injections to address various facial imperfections.

Based on the defendant's suggestions, the women—both of whom were in their mid-twenties at the time—met with Villegas on a number of occasions between Jan. 1, 2002 and Nov. 30, 2003. During these visits, the spa president injected substances into various parts of their faces.

Reportedly, Villegas allegedly claimed that the substances were redoff, restylane (used to treat wrinkles and enhance lips), collagen (a dermal filler used to fill wrinkles, lines and scars and enhance lips), cortisone (used to reduce post-operative inflammation) and kenalog (used to reduce inflammation).

As noted during the trial, the women began experiencing substantial pain and physical injuries after receiving the injections from the defendant. Both women suffered infections, swelling and distortions on their faces and lips.

The injections reportedly caused both females' lips to be deformed and limited their lip functions, including their ability to eat, drink and speak. As a result of their injuries, the women have undergone multiple facial surgeries and have permanent scarring to their faces and hard lumps under their skin.

The substances removed from the women's faces during the surgeries were consistent with silicone, it was noted during trial testimony. Both women paid the defendant more than $2,000 combined for the procedures she performed on them and were told by Villegas that she worked along with her brother, a doctor, though he was neither present during the treatments nor available to advise them.

The doctor is a licensed psychiatrist in New York State and the vice president of Altiva New York.

District Attorney Brown expressed his appreciation to the New York State Department of Education's Office of Professional Discipline for referring the matter to his office.

The investigation was conducted by Detectives Richard A. Lewis and Jerome D. Pugh of the D.A.'s Detective Squad, under the supervision of Sgt. John W. Kenna and Lt. Robert J. Burke and the overall supervision of Chief Lawrence J. Festa and Deputy Chief Albert D. Velardi.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Allison P. Wright and Quynda L. Fleming of the D.A.'s Economic and Environmental Crimes Bureau, which is supervised by Assistant District Attorneys Gregory C. Pavlides, bureau chief, and Christina Hanophy, deputy bureau chief.