British ColumbiaFarshad Khojsteh Kashani, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting seven clients during vaginal tightening proceedures at his Burnaby spa, has been released on bail after putting up $150,000 in cash.Farshad Khojsteh Kashani sexually assaulted 7 clients during the procedures at Fab Skin Care in BurnabyKarin Larsen · CBC News · Posted: Dec 12, 2025 9:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Farshad Khojsteh Kashani is pictured in a photo posted to now-defunct Fab Skin Care business website. The former medical spa operator, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexual assault, has been released pending an appeal. (Fab Skin Care)WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.A B.C. medical spa operator, serving an 11 year sentence for sexually assaulting clients during vaginal tightening and incontinence treatments, has been released from prison pending appeal.Farshad Khojsteh Kashani was sentenced on Sept. 16 after a jury found him guilty of seven counts of sexual assault, related to seven female clients of the now-defunct Fab Skin Care in Burnaby.On Sept. 23, Khojsteh Kashani filed a notice of appeal against his conviction and sentence, arguing the trial judge made an error and the verdict was “unreasonable or cannot be supported by the evidence.”The office of Fab Skin Care at 5481 Kingsway is seen in March 2022. The medical spa has since gone out of business. (Ben Nelms/CBC)He was ordered released on bail by the B.C. Court of Appeal on Nov. 28, with conditions including 24-hour house arrest, the surrendering of all expired and unexpired travel documents, and that he not contact any of the victims.Additionally, he was required to deposit $150,000 in cash with the court registry and pledge a surety of $400,000, according to Ann Seymour, a spokesperson for the B.C. Prosecution Service. The names of the victims are protected due to a court-ordered publication ban.RCMP had earlier said that the first victim came forward to police in 2019. (Ben Nelms/CBC)RCMP earlier said the first victim came forward in 2019, followed by a second in 2021. When charges against Khojsteh Kashani were announced in 2022, five more women came forward.In her reasons for sentencing, Justice Lisa A. Warren said Khojsteh Kashani was guilty of touching each of the victims sexually while performing a non-surgical “vaginal rejuvenation” treatment using a high-intensity focused ultrasound machine. Khostej Kashani also promoted the machine as a treatment for incontinence.Women receiving the treatment normally lie on their back in a “pap smear” position, said Warren in her decision, while a wand delivering ultrasound waves is inserted into their vagina, rotated and withdrawn in stages.“The practitioner is required to touch the vaginal area of the client only to the extent necessary to guide the wand during the initial insertion,” the ruling reads.However, one woman testified Khostej Kashani required her to turn over with her buttocks raised while he performed the procedure from behind. Victims also testified that he penetrated them vaginally with his fingers and rubbed their clitorises, and that he made thrusting movements with his fingers or the wand — described as “aggressive” in one case.A number of the women claimed he disregarded their requests to stop and made sexually charged comments during the assaults.’Emotional and psychological suffering’“In each case, the sexual touching was highly invasive, and five of the seven complainants experienced significant physical pain during the sexual assaults,” said Warren in her decision. “All of the complainants have experienced ongoing emotional and psychological suffering.”The court heard that all the victims in the case suffered serious emotional and physical pain. (Peter Scobie/CBC)Court documents say Khostej Kashani trained and worked as a doctor in Iran, before coming to Canada as a permanent resident in 2011 with the intention of practicing medicine in British Columbia. After failing to meet the English language proficiency requirements to work as a doctor, he moved into the realm of medical aesthetics. Warren noted that Khostej Kashani has no previous criminal record. During his trial, he maintained he had performed only legitimate aspects of the vaginal tightening procedure that were misunderstood by the victims.A date for the appeal hearing hasn’t been set. (CBC)The sentencing decision says Khostej Kashani and his wife have since re-established a new and successful medical aesthetics/naturopathic clinic together.A date for the appeal hearing has not been set.If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database. ABOUT THE AUTHORKarin Larsen is a former Olympian and award winning sports broadcaster who covers news and sports for CBC Vancouver.
Vaginal tightening practitioner, serving 11 years for sexual assault, released from jail pending appeal
