ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

PRESS RELEASE
TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Public Affairs Counsel Farrah Emami, Spokesperson

Office: 714-347-8408 Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-292-2718 Cell: 714-323-4486

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # TBA

Date: December 18, 2008

COSMETOLOGIST CHARGED WITH GIVING MANICURE CUSTOMER

SECOND DEGREE BURNS USING LASER TO REMOVE TUMMY TUCK SCAR
NEWPORT BEACH – A cosmetologist has been charged with illegally performing a medical procedure using a laser on a
manicure customer, resulting in infected second degree burns. Tuyet H.T. Luong, 36, Anaheim, is charged with one felony
count of practicing medicine without a license and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury. If convicted,
she faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison. The People will be requesting $35,000 bail. An arraignment
date and Department are to be determined at the Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

Luong is a cosmetologist at MC Beauty Center in Costa Mesa. On Jan. 24, 2008, Jane Doe went to the salon for a
manicure. While having her nails done by Luong, the victim complained about a scar she had on her abdomen from having
a tummy tuck. Luong is accused of telling the victim that she could flatten the scar using a laser-type device in the back of
the salon. The victim agreed to the procedure.

Once in the back room, the defendant is accused of covering the scar with a topical ointment, supposedly to numb the area,
and using a 120-Volt laser heat device over the scar. She is accused of using the laser several times, occasionally stopping
to re-apply the ointment. After several minutes, the victim began to complain of pain and could smell her skin burning. The
defendant is accused of charging Jane Doe $500 for the procedure.

Approximately three days later, the victim went to the doctor after developing a fever and headache. She had suffered deep
cuts through several layers of skin from the laser and had second degree burns. The burn had become infected and Jane
Doe was given oral antibiotics.

After seeing a doctor, Jane Doe called Luong to inform her about the burns. Luong is accused of asking the victim to return
to the salon so that she could see the scar. When Jane Doe went to the salon, Luong is accused of taking some of the oral
antibiotics, crushing them, and applying them topically to the burn.

The Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology referred the incident to the California Department of Consumer Affairs (CDCA)
for investigation. In December 2008, CDCA brought the case to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Deputy District Attorney Lynda Fernandez of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

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