2000 Beetle head

I have a 2000 Beetle with the 2.0 liter engine. Recently began to lose coolant. Was checked at Volks mechanic who believed it needed head gasket. Tore engine down and had head inspected. Machined 20 thousandths off of exhaust port side. They also commented that it looked like it had been machined before.
Anyone hear of this being a typical problem for this engine?

It's not a real common problem, unless the water pump went bad & the engine was overheated. More often the plastic flanges where the radiator & heater hoses attach to the head will crack & have a slow leak.