NSW beauty therapist banned for five years after patient left in ICU from horror injection mishap

A beauty practitioner has been banned from practising after one of her patients spent five days in intensive care.

Ms Huirong Zhou (also known as Katrina Zhou) holds qualifications in remedial massage, beauty therapy, and laser hair reduction and owns Rui Mei Beauty Salon in Burwood, NSW.

The salon has operated since 2014, offering “semi-permanent makeup sessions, manicures and advanced facial treatments” however the “Burwood Council confirmed that the site is not approved for skin penetration procedures”.

An interagency inspection was carried out on October 20, 2025 at Rui Mei Beauty Salon after a complaint was received from a patient of the salon on October 15.

The 62-year-old woman was admitted to Canterbury Hospital after experiencing symptoms consistent with iatrogenic botulism including dysarthria and dysphagia for two weeks.

She was transferred to Concord Intensive Care Unit, where botulinum antitoxin was administered and she continues to experience difficulty swallowing and speaking.

During the inspection, officers found multiple overseas-sourced injectables and needles, syringes, saline and antiseptics that were not approved for use in Australia.

“A large volume of therapeutic goods were seized by the Pharmaceutical Services Unit including Botox and dermal filler of various provenance, other cosmetic injectables not approved for use in Australia, and local anaesthetic creams whose strength is sufficient to be a Schedule 4 medication,” The Health Care Complaints Commission said in their statement of decision.

Concerns were also identified around infection control and a lack of appropriate record keeping.

The Commission said “Ms Zhou poses a serious and ongoing risk to the health and safety of members of the public”

“Ms Huirong Zhou (also known as Katrina Zhou) is prohibited from providing any health services, in either paid employment or voluntarily, to any member of the public for a period of five years from the date of issue of this order.”