By Joel M. Sy Egco

A cosmetic surgeon who has been implicated in a string of criminal cases was exonerated by the Quezon City Prosecutor?s Office due to lack of probable cause.

Assistant prosecutor Gibson Araula Jr. dismissed the charges of estafa and reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries filed against Dr. Joel Mendez and colleague Dr. Mary Jane Balantac.

Mendez owns the Body & Face of Mendez Medical Group that caters to celebrities and well-heeled clients.

Araula said there was no sufficient basis to indict Balantac, who attended to the complainant, 42-year-old Tamayo Araki.

Mendez was cleared because he had no participation in performing the operation.

?It must be noted that Dr. Balantac did not employ deceit or fraud when she explained the procedure and the effects of the treatment. In fact, after the explanation, complainant agreed to have the treatment.

?Balantac took all the necessary steps in order to protect the complainant after the treatment,? the resolution said.

Araki claimed that she suffered injuries after undergoing a non-surgical facelift called ?tenlift? under Balantac in Mendez?s clinic on March 28 last year.

In her affidavit, she said the specialist assured her that the ?tenlift? had no after-effect since all the components of the treatment were natural.

She said Balantac emphasized that there was no Botox involved, prompting her to have the treatment for P21,000.

Araki said she started feeling pain and numbness in the areas where the ?tenlift? was injected on April 1, 2008, adding that she could not smile, open her mouth normally, or move her facial muscles.

Balantac allegedly told her that it was all normal and temporary, and that it may last for only three weeks to three months.

While admitting she was responsible for the procedure on Araki, Balantac instructed her to avoid rubbing or massaging her cheeks, minimize her facial movement, too much sun exposure, and not to wash the face until the following day.