People self-injecting with 'Korean Botox' as experts make grave warning
The rise in beauty fans self-injecting themselves with 'Korean Botox' is on the rise. People are injecting themselves at home with Innotox, a South Korean version of Botox which is marketed as a cheaper and longer-lasting alternative.
For just £50, people are able to get Innotox delivered straight to their door, and the black market anti-wrinkle solution is being illegally sold through social media and websites. There are six prescription-only Botox brands that are legal for cosmetic use in the UK. Councils across the country - including Manchester, Wolverhampton and Nottinghamshire - are warning against products such as an Innotox, manufactured in South Korea by Medytox, as none of these products are authorised for use in the UK.
Innotox is fast gaining popularity among many DIYers, who are lured in by the convenience of doing it at home, as well as being more cost-effective and having a "simpler" injection process. But medical experts are growing increasingly alarmed at the surge, warning that what might seem like a harmless wrinkle fix could result in long-term facial paralysis - or something even worse.
Fuelled by the rise in K-Beauty, with beauty buffs jumping on the Korean beauty bandwagon, it's revealed a troubling trend as more and more people are opting for the illegal distribution of unapproved botulinum toxin products, raising alarms about public health and consumer safety.
In 2019, Marcelle King, 62, was hospitalised, put on a drip and given steroids after being given fake Botox by a man pretending to be a doctor. She suffered a huge anaphylactic shock in reaction to the substance, which tests showed was unrefined beef gelatine imported from China.
"He started these injections... each one felt like a red hot cigarette," Marcelle told LBC. "My [face] was swelling up like Frankenstein's Monster and my eyes started blistering up. I was really wheezing and struggling to breathe."
Content creators on TikTok and YouTube have been sharing their results from self-injecting the Innotox, which has been encouraging viewers to jump on the hype. Raising serious red flags among the health community, especially given the unregulated nature of these purchases and the lack of professional oversight, Managing Director of the Harley Street Skin Clinic, Sophie Cooper, has shared insights into the dangers of purchasing Innotox online and self-injecting.
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Innotox is a Korean beauty treatment used as an alternative to Botox that contains the same ingredient botulinum toxin type A. Cooper explains: "It works similar to Botox by relaxing facial muscles which softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While Innotox is approved in some countries, it is not approved or authorised for use in the UK or US and people have been urged not to follow the trend."
"While many beauty and skincare-related TikTok trends can be fun and harmless, this one differs as it's leading to people self-injecting at home, something I would absolutely advise against," she said.
YouTuber SpaandTell took to her channel to show her followers how she DIY's her own anti-wrinkle injections with Innotox in a lengthy video - and her how-to video, among many other creators posting similar content is further sparking concern from experts. In reality, self-injecting an alternative comes with many dangers.
These "how-to" videos appearing online aren't in-depth enough, and the expert said it takes years to learn to inject correctly, and following these videos poses a serious risk. For example, injecting too deep in the wrong places can affect your breathing or cause muscle paralysis.
This means if something goes wrong while doing it at home, people might not have the knowledge to treat it appropriately or recognise when it's serious enough to seek medical attention. Sophie further detailed: "Any injectable products should be administered by a trained professional in a sanitised and safe environment so if any issues arise, the experts are there to take care of you.
"Fake or improperly sourced botulinum toxin can cause serious medical complications. Especially if you aren't a medical professional with proper understanding of facial anatomy," she added.
While it may be tempting due to the lower cost, Innotox might end up being very expensive down the road. When you make a mistake, its 'longer-lasting' quality would no longer seem attractive as you'd have to pay for a professional to fix the problem, and this is likely to be a lot more than what you paid.
The expert added: "Without the experts, you're exposing yourself to all kinds of risks. Innotox is not authorised for use in the UK which means that it does not have the same safety standards as Botox or other authorised products," and urged: "I strongly advise against self-injecting yourself with unregulated anti-aging products or following videos on how to do this from either TikTok or anywhere else on the internet. Always come to a professional."
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Vet nurse warns 90% of dog owners don't know life-saving skill
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It can actually promote bloating, abdominal cramping and pain,' the expert warned. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. 'What we would recommend is a slow increase in fibre as well as making sure you're having adequate fluids (eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily), we don't want to do something like that overnight.' As well as shedding weight, the TikToker revealed she's noticed another change - potentially, a result of her new diet. ''Day four of my fruit fast. Slept like a baby last night, first time in years I've had a full 12 hours,'' she said in the video. ''Could this fasting be healing insomnia? I think so.'' While fruit fast hasn't been directly linked to better sleep, there are some popular picks which may improve sleep quality, such as kiwis, tart cherries and pineapples, Hartford Healthcare reported. The jaw-dropping makeover has since taken the internet by storm, winning the slimmer stunner close to 80k views in just one day. One viewer said: ''Well done proud of u keep it up.'' ''Well done, you look fab,'' another chimed in. The dark side of Mounjaro 3 Last year it was revealed that Scots nurse Susan McGowan, 58, died after taking low-dose injections of Mounjaro over a fortnight. A probe also found that nearly 400 people have gone to hospital after taking weight loss drugs. Side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea leading to severe dehydration. But doctors say they have also seen 'life-threatening complications', including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas. Model Lottie Moss, 27, also said she had a seizure after taking high doses of Ozempic. The makers of Mounjaro, Lilly UK, said patient safety is its 'top priority'. Lilly UK stressed: 'Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data. 'If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
