A Seattle-area plastic surgery provider has been ordered to pay $5 million to the state attorney general’s office and thousands of Washington patients after being accused of posting fake positive reviews and threatening patients over negative ones. The settlement, reached through a federal consent decree, aims to hold the provider accountable for its deceptive practices.
The lawsuit alleged that the company, Allure Esthetic, engaged in various illicit activities, including rigging “best doctor” competitions held by local media outlets, withholding patient rebates, and manipulating before-and-after photos of procedures. Patients who posted negative reviews were reportedly threatened with lawsuits, while others were offered cash, free services, or products in exchange for removing negative feedback. Additionally, over 10,000 patients were made to sign nondisclosure agreements that restricted them from posting negative reviews online.
Dr. Javad Sajan, the owner of Allure Esthetic, was said to have personally authorized the incentives given to patients who posted negative comments. The lawsuit also claimed that employees were instructed to create fake email accounts to pose as patients and write positive reviews.
As part of the resolution, Allure Esthetic will be required to hire a third-party forensic accounting firm to conduct an independent audit of its consumer rebate program. This audit will help identify individuals who are owed rebates, and the company must provide proof of compliance with the consent decree to the attorney general’s office for the next decade. Any violation of the terms outlined in the consent decree by Allure or its related businesses may result in civil penalties of up to $125,000 per violation.
The settlement puts an end to a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Bob Ferguson in December 2022. The complaint accused Allure Esthetic and Dr. Javad Sajan of violating state and federal consumer protection laws by posting false reviews and coercing patients into signing nondisclosure agreements. As part of the resolution, Allure will pay approximately $1.5 million in restitution to around 21,000 affected individuals. Those who were forced to sign illegal nondisclosure agreements will receive $50 each, while individuals who paid a nonrefundable consultation fee before signing such agreements will receive $120 each.
The remaining $3.5 million will be allocated to Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office to cover attorney fees, litigation costs, and the monitoring and enforcement of the consent decree. Allure Esthetic, owned by Dr. Javad Sajan, operates under various names, including Alderwood Surgical Center, Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery, Seattle Plastic Surgery, Northwest Nasal Sinus Center, and Northwest Face & Body.
The company provides a range of surgical and nonsurgical services, specializing in plastic and cosmetic procedures. The lawsuit accused Allure Esthetic of engaging in illegal business practices, such as manipulating its ratings on platforms like Yelp and Google by posting fake positive reviews and suppressing genuine negative reviews. The settlement aims to ensure transparency and protect the rights of patients seeking plastic surgery services within the Seattle area.