Celebrity esthetician Sonya Dakar has surrendered her esthetician license and establishment license after a client lawsuit alleged she caused permanent scarring from a facial treatment. The settlement also requires Dakar to pay $17,731.25 to the state board and $70,972.27 to the client, Victoria Nelson.
Dakar can reapply for her license in three years, but must demonstrate rehabilitation. The California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology filed an accusation against Dakar in November, alleging unprofessional conduct. Nelson had previously filed a civil lawsuit against Dakar.
Nelson stated in a TikTok post that the legal process has been lengthy and challenging but that the settlement signifies a positive outcome. She expressed relief that the administrative case is resolved, although her civil suit is still ongoing. Nelson is seeking approximately $71,000 in her civil suit, not only for the alleged injury but also for what she claims were false representations regarding Dakar's qualifications, the treatments, and billing.
Nelson's lawsuit claims that during a facial in April 2021, Dakar applied an "unknown substance, likely acid," to her face, resulting in severe burns and permanent scarring. The suit further alleges that Dakar performed procedures like microneedling and treatments using a lancet, which fall outside the scope of an esthetician's license in California.
Nelson, who described herself as a frequent client of Dakar's, reportedly returned for about 30 additional sessions to address the damage to her face after the alleged 2021 incident. An August video posted by Nelson detailing her "permanent disfigurement" garnered nearly 10 million views.
Dakar, who has been in the esthetics business since the 1980s and operated her Beverly Hills clinic for 44 years, has not released a public statement. Her clinic has treated numerous celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore, and Sofia Vergara.
Nelson shared her satisfaction with the resolution of the administrative case, stating, "It’s wild to think that I almost didn’t speak up. I stayed silent for years. First out of trust, then out of fear, then out of exhaustion." She encouraged others who have experienced similar harm to come forward, adding, "this is your sign that the system CAN work."