Gqeberha beautician under investigation after clients cry foul

A Gqeberha woman whose skin treatments allegedly left several clients with swollen and burnt faces is under investigation after being accused of impersonating a medical practitioner.

Jenine Nell, from Overbaakens, is being probed by the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) and the police after the alleged botched procedures.

She is also alleged to have told at least one client, whose arms were left “severely bruised” after she treated him for depression by administering ketamine injections, that she was a doctor.

Nell, who works from home, initially agreed to a sitdown-interview with The Herald but later changed her mind, declining to comment.

Accusations that she told a client she was no longer working as a beautician and was now focused on her career as a “psychologist and sexologist” are also being investigated.

Bay resident Lorine Smit, who reported a complaint of fraud against Nell, said she had approached her after seeing an advertisement promoting her treatments on Facebook.

She said she contacted Nell for treatment to fix the bumps on her nose and blemishes on her face.

“She guaranteed the treatment would give me a completely new and improved look,” Smit said, adding that her mother had also decided to go to Nell for treatment.

“She even provided us with a 50% discount, reducing the cost of our treatments to R5,000 each.”

Smit said she paid the full R10,000 to Nell.

The Herald has seen proof of payment.

Nell then performed the procedure, known as plasma fibroblast therapy, which is aimed at reducing marks on the skin, on September 21.

The HPCSA said the procedure necessitated the presence of a qualified physician.

The process involves creating tiny holes in the skin to stimulate collagen production, resulting in smoother skin. However, it can be painful.

Nell also allegedly offered an anaesthetic to Smit to reduce the pain for an additional R3,000, but Smit could not afford it.

After the procedure, Smit said her face was swollen and felt as if it was on fire.

When she was in public, people would ask her if she had been burnt.

“It was not only painful but embarrassing.”

A week later, Smit contacted Nell to ask when her face would start looking better.

Nell reportedly responded that it could take up to a month.

“I didn’t want to show my face in public. For several days I hid.

“It looked like I had been stung by bees. I still cover it

with foundation.”

When Smit’s mother saw her daughter’s face, she immediately cancelled her procedure and Smit demanded a refund.

“It was one excuse after another, and here we are months later and she still hasn’t refunded me.

“I eventually could no longer reach her.”

Smit then turned to social media to try to track Nell down.

Several people responded, alleging they’d had similar experiences with Nell.

According to Smit, Nell had at some stage mentioned she was done with beauty treatments and was now focused on her career as a psychologist and sexologist.

These claims are under investigation by the police and the HPCSA.

Both of Nell’s business profiles for her beauty procedures indicate she is permanently closed.

Another complainant, who declined to be named, said when he met Nell, after he had been referred to her by a colleague, she allegedly claimed to be a doctor.

The man suffers from treatment-resistant anxiety and depression, and said only ketamine treatment helped.

Nell allegedly offered the treatment at a reduced rate.

“Being in a difficult financial position I trusted Jenine and decided to make use of her services.”

He said he paid R7,550 to her Capitec savings account on October 19.

This is documented in his statement to the police and in possession of The Herald.

“I initially did an EFT but Jenine requested I do a [pay and clear] so she could obtain the ketamine quicker and I could start treatment sooner.

“I agreed and Jenine promised to reimburse me the initial R7,550.”

In total, he allegedly paid Nell R15,100.

He said on October 25, Nell sent him a WhatsApp asking if she could borrow R2,550 from the R7,550 because she was unable to work due to a broken ankle.

“I felt sorry for her and agreed,” he said.

“On October 27, she sent me another WhatsApp asking to borrow the entire R7,550 because she had to go to casualty the night before due to the broken ankle as she was in a lot of pain.

“She said her medical aid savings were depleted.

“She said she would pay me back by the end of November.”

By that time Nell had treated him once, injecting him three times with ketamine in both arms and the right shoulder.

Ketamine is a dissociative drug initially used as an anaesthetic, but is now used in much lower doses to treat anxiety, depression and chronic pain, among other conditions.

“I received the first ketamine treatment on October 31 at about 3pm,” he said.

“Jenine told me to lie down and requested I put on spa socks because I needed to keep warm during treatment.”

She then took his blood pressure and a urine sample.

“She came back to say my glucose levels were low, and gave me a sachet of glucose to drink,” he said.

“She appeared very professional and had a silver case with her in which she kept the syringe.

“I did not see a ketamine vial, only a syringe.

“I didn’t experience the dissociative feeling that is part of the treatment.

“Research has shown that feeling is an integral part of the treatment.

“She claimed she injected me with ‘extended release’ ketamine.”

He said Nell told him to drive home and rest up.

“I started to become suspicious because you’re not allowed to drive after receiving ketamine.”

He later asked her what form of ketamine she had used.

Nell, in a voice note, said she used (R)-ketamine. The reporter has heard the message.

According to online athome ketamine clinic Isha Health, (R)-ketamine is not used for mood disorders and is, in fact, still in the clinical trial process.

The complainant said Nell had allegedly still not repaid him.

“She put my life in danger. “And that was my savings.” He also filed a complaint with the HPCSA and the police.

In his complaint to the police, the man said that on November 1 he realised his arm was “severely bruised”.

SA Business Confederation subcommittee on health chair and committee member of Solidarity’s health advisory board, Dr Angelique Coetzee, said not just anyone was allowed to inject patients with ketamine.

“It is given only by, or under, the immediate supervision of a medical doctor trained to use it.”

Coetzee said if given the wrong dose, a patient could die.

“One can easily overdose on ketamine.”

Several other erstwhile clients of Nell’s in the Bay took to social media alleging that their various treatments had not worked and that their requests for refunds had fallen on deaf ears.

Melissa Botha Wait was one of them and said she was in the process of reporting a case to the police after the skin treatment she received from Nell did not work.

Another former client who took to Facebook to complain told The Herald the mere mention of Nell’s name had opened old wounds.

“She [allegedly] inflicted harm upon me.

“I want nothing to do with her, so please spare me from any association with that situation.”

He said he lost almost R5,000.

HPCSA spokesperson Christopher Tsatsawane confirmed Nell was being investigated by the council’s inspectorate for allegedly posing as a registered medical practitioner.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu also confirmed the matter was under investigation.

“The suspect’s credentials/qualifications form part of the investigation,” she said.