Pinoy beauty expert's clinic in Hollywood shut down

California medical authorities shut down last week a medical clinic run by Filipino beauty expert Manny Calayan as it was allegedly carrying out medical procedures “without any licensed medical personnel present." The Medical Board of California said patients complained of injuries brought by the laser treatments at the Calayan Medical Clinic in West Hollywood. A news release on the medical board's website described Calayan’s practice as “unlicensed," where medical procedures are being conducted without any licensed medical personnel present. “The mission of the Medical Board is public protection, and this action reflects the board’s ongoing commitment to that mission," said Linda Whitney, executive director of the Medical Board. GMA News Online tried contacting clinic owners Manny and Pie Calayan but they were unavailable for comment as of posting time. A staff at Calayan’s office in Makati City said the couple are in the US. "The Medical Board received complaints that the Calayan Medical Clinic had opened a medical practice in Los Angeles where cosmetic surgical procedures, including laser and Botox treatments, were being performed," the news release said. "The practice was subsequently moved to West Hollywood. Victims reported being injured by the laser treatments," the report added. An undercover investigator posing as a patient obtained evidence that an “unlicensed female represented herself as a licensed medical doctor, diagnosed a medical condition, and performed laser treatments," the board said. With the finding, the board obtained and served a search warrant last Aug. 9. The case has been referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for an alleged violation of Business and Professions Code section 2052 (Practicing Medicine Without a License). Surveillance A report on the "Los Angeles Times" said as of Thursday last week, staff members at the clinic said that it was closed and that they were unaware of the state investigation. The report added that Operation Safe Medicine has received 351 complaints about unlicensed medical activity in two years, referring 45 of them for criminal prosecution, according to Christine Valine, Medical Board spokeswoman. The Los Angeles Times report said investigators began conducting surveillance at the clinic at Sunset Medical Tower, 9201 Sunset Blvd. It cited medical board records and quoted Valine as saying the Calayans are not licensed to practice medicine in California. Calayans The Los Angeles Times cited an article on the Calayan clinic’s web site as saying Manny was trained in Los Angeles and “specializes in cosmetic surgery and does nose lift, eye bags removal, dermal fillers for laugh lines, cheeks or chin augmentation, deep wrinkle treatment, deep-setting of the upper eyelids, face lifts, breast enlargement and liposuction." It added that Pie Calayan was also trained in Los Angeles and “specializes in skin, hair and nails treatments including slimming [lasers] and skin whitening." — JE/VS/ VVP, GMA News