Warning over spate of deadly fake Botox injections in UK region - as 36 year-old left fighting for her life

Daily Mail​

6 hours ago

A mother-of-three was left seriously ill in hospital after a receiving a knock-off and illegal ' Botox ' treatment from an aesthetic beautician.
Kaylie Bailey, 36, from Peterlee, in County Durham, paid £75 for three 'Botox' injections from Gemma Gray—which was half of what it cost on a previous visit.
'Botox' is the most recognised brand of the substance botulinum toxin which is typically used to paralyse facial muscles with the aim of reducing wrinkles.
Within days of receiving the bargain treatment, she suddenly began to struggle to see, reported the BBC.
Initially doctors at Sunderland Royal Hospital, diagnosed her with the eye condition ptosis—which is when the upper eyelid droops—and told her to rest before sending her home.
According to the Hospital Trust, medics told her it was likely related to the beauty treatment she'd had, and advised to see a GP if her symptoms worsened.
But in the subsequent days her condition deteriorated, so she was rushed back to hospital where she was told she had botulism.
This is a paralysis-triggering bacterial infection that can cause muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing, and even death.
The mother is one of now 28 other people diagnosed with toxic poisoning after getting anti-wrinkle injections in North East England, according to the BBC.
Due to her serious condition, she spent three days on the Intensive Care Unit and was treated with an anti-toxin.
At one point the young mother stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated by medics.
'I remember lying on the bed thinking "I'm dying here, and I don't want to",' she said through tears, while telling her experience to the BBC.
This has risen from 14 reports of severe eyelid drooping, double vision, trouble swallowing, slurred speech and lethargy, earlier this month.
While still under investigation by the UK Health Security Agency, the reactions are believed to be linked to botulism after aesthetic treatments.
In the hospital trust's response to the BBC, they added that botulinum toxicity is an incredibly rare condition 'not seen by the majority of doctors during their careers'.
Since being released from hospital Ms Bailey has had to wear an eye patch, which is a constant reminder of the traumatic ordeal.
After returning home, she contacted the beautician who administered the 'Botox' Mrs Gray who she said told her it was a 'nationwide problem with the product'.
Mrs Gray, formerly known as Gemma Brown, runs her business Belissimo Aesthetics, from her home near Bishop Auckland and at a salon in Blackhall—and advertises it as being 'fully trained and insured'.
But it is important to note that this is not linked to any other businesses of the same name.
The BBC reported that she administered an illegal type of botulinum toxin, called Toxpia, to a number of patients.
This product from South Korea, is not licensed for use in the UK and it is an offence to sell or supply it, according to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
But Mrs Gray told clients it was a 'new type of Botox' and charged between £75 and £1000 for three areas of treatment.
It is also understood by the BBC that she sold the Topxia to another aesthetic practitioner who administered it to clients who went on to fall ill.
The mother said: 'When I went in (for the anti-wrinkle jab appointment), I felt like she was rushing that much it stung, my eyes were watering that much off it.
'I cannot believe she's even dared to do that to people. She didn't even know what was in it and we're having to live with what she's done to us. I nearly died because of it.'
She isn't the only person who had a severe reaction after having a treatment by the beautician.
Paula Harrison, 54, also had a reaction after visiting Mrs Gray at a salon in Blackhall, Co Durham in late May, reported the BBC.
The 54-year-old had previously been to the beautician for a lip-filler procedure, so went back for what she thought was Botox and under-eye filler.
Then after a few days, mother-of-three also became unwell—she told the BBC her throat was closing up and she was unable to eat.
So, she went to Sunderland Hospital where she had to stay for four days to receive an anti-toxin treatment.
Mrs Gray told Mrs Harrison that it was a 'new treatment on trial' and that she was devastated, the BBC reported.
'(Mrs Gray) is playing with people's lives. Luckily, I'm alright, but I could have been dead,' said Mrs Harrison.
The BBC reached out to Mrs Gray to provide her with a chance to reply to the allegations, but she declined to comment.
However, she has told clients that she is sorry for what happened and described feeling bad that they became ill.