Burnaby laser skin care provider charged with sexually assaulting two women
Posted March 17, 2022 11:13 am.
Last Updated March 17, 2022 4:12 pm.
A skin care provider in Burnaby has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault, while in a separate investigation, Fraser Health says women who recieved certain treatments at the clinic should be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI).
Farshad Khojsteh Kashani, 47, is charged with two counts of sexual assault with a weapon after two women accused him of attacking them during their treatments at Fab Skin Care at 5481 Kingsway.
A business with that address is currently labelled as Wellness Skincare on Google Maps. Fab Skin Care’s website says it is currently down for maintenance.
Burnaby laser clinic Fab Skin Care facing 2 separate but serious allegations
Worker charged with sexually assaulting 2 women in 2019 & 2021
People who got intensity focused ultrasound vaginal tightening need STI testing immediately
Full story https://t.co/ea9XXc2huc— Lasia Kretzel (@rhymeswpretzel) March 17, 2022
The criminal investigation began in 2019 when one woman reported to police she was sexually assaulted. A second woman came forward in 2021, allowing the Child Abuse and Sexual Offence Unit to gather more information. RCMP confirmed both people are adults.
“We are grateful to the two women who came forward to police, but our investigators haven’t ruled out that there could be other people with information who we have not yet heard from,” said Cpl. Michelle Hurtubise with Burnaby RCMP. “We are appealing for anyone else with information to contact our investigators.”
Anyone with information can contact investigators by calling a designated phone information line at 604-646-9511.
Kashani is prohibited from performing any form of laser treatments under his court-ordered conditions.
Certain patients should be screened for STIs
On the same day police announced the charges, Fraser Health came out asking anyone who received high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) vaginal tightening services at Fab Skin Care to be tested for STIs immediately.
Fraser Health says the clinic was not providing these services through a registered health professional and wasn’t using appropriate infection control measures, such as cleaning and disinfecting.
The health region is asking people to be screened for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
“Because of the nature of the procedure, we are not concerned about blood borne infections such as HIV or hepatitis C or B, which is very reassuring in this case,” Dr. Ingrid Tyler with Fraser Health said.
Tyle says because STIs can often be asymptomatic and go undetected for some time, even if someone tests positive, it may be unclear whether they were exposed at the clinic.
Tyle encourages people to do their research on clinics to make sure they are registered to preform certain procedures.
“Members of the public should be aware that, under the BC Health Professions Act, only certain registered health professionals may perform services involving intravaginal devices or intravaginal examinations,” Fraser Health wrote in a release. “If a personal service establishment is using intravaginal devices, ask if their services are performed by a registered health professional.”
