The basics:

• Bergen spa owner fined $15K, license suspended for five years
• State says she performed invasive treatments without training
• AG’s office found syringes, medical waste onsite
• NJ continues crackdown on unlicensed med-spa procedures

A Bergen County spa owner is permanently barred from operating a similar business in New Jersey following allegations she illegally provided invasive aesthetic treatments, according to authorities.

As part of a consent order announced June 11 by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the state also suspended Ana Velazco’s massage and bodywork therapy license for five years.

Additionally, Velazco received a $15,000 fine from the Board of Medical Examiners for practicing medicine without a license at her business, Fabsilhouette (also known as Medical Massage Network) in Fair Lawn.

According to the AG’s Office, procedures performed onsite included suture removal, fluid drainage on post-surgery clients, Mesolipo fat-dissolving injections and microneedling — all of which are considered medical services and require a licensed physician.

Velazco is not a licensed physician and admitted she had no medical training, the state said.

The allegations stem from a March 2023 Division of Consumer Affairs investigation at Fabsilhoutte. The visit uncovered syringes, needle tips, topical anesthetics as well as hazardous medical waste inside the exam rooms, the state said.

If Velazco has her license reinstated following the suspension, she may only practice under the supervision of another massage and bodywork therapist with an active license and in good standing, according to the consent order.

Russell Trocano, the attorney listed as Velazco’s legal representation in the consent order, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cracking down

In a statement, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said, “Our professional licensing laws require individuals who offer certain types of services to meet fundamental training and education requirements to deter unqualified practice and prevent serious harm. Professionals who put the public at risk by performing services that exceed the scope of their licenses, especially those involving invasive medical procedures, will face serious consequences.”

Elizabeth Harris, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, added, “When individuals perform medical procedures without the requisite licensure and qualifications, they expose their clients to serious harm. As the med-spa industry continues to grow and evolve, we will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who provide aesthetic services they are neither licensed nor qualified to perform.”

Over the past two years, the state has made enforcement actions related to alleged unlicensed medical practice in connection with “medical spa” treatments. The moves involved needles, syringes and lancets or prescription medications, like Botox and lidocaine.

Other businesses that paid civil penalties to resolve allegations of performing services without a license include:

• Skyn Spa in Clifton $10,000
• Carolina Nunez Skincare in Union $22,500
• Marysol’s Beauty Works in Union $17,650
• Katica Body Contour Salon in Elizabeth $20,000