Latest news with #anti-wrinkle
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Warning after ‘cheap' Botox from overseas that can cause ‘permanent disfigurement and scarring' discovered in UK salons
BRITS have been warned to be vigilant when buying "cheap" anti-wrinkle and filler injections after unlicensed products with a "very serious risk of injury" were seized from UK salons. The ' Botox ' products, that had been imported from overseas, couldn't be identified due to insufficient labelling, and pose a risk of permanent disfigurement and scarring. 1 Rochdale Borough Council said it had found the unlicensed products at five business premises in the town where Botox and fillers were being advertised. All related items were seized by the council's public protection team and the businesses were referred to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which has the power to prosecute. The products were found as part of routine checks by trading standards and environmental health officers to ensure Botox wasn't being administered to under 18s. Names of the businesses cannot be revealed at present, but no evidence was found of underage customers being given the cosmetic injections. According to national statistics, more than 900,000 Botox injections are carried out in the UK each year. Councillor Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader of the council, said: "While there's no issue with wanting to look younger, it's really important you do your homework beforehand with these types of treatment - especially given what our officers found. "Know who your prescribed is and who will be administering your treatment. "The unlicensed products we've uncovered potentially posed serous health and safety risks, so it's very important you stay vigilant." The council also urged anyone considering cosmetic procedures to check what training and experience providers have and what their insurance arrangements are to avoid further potential issues. And businesses have been reminded about their legal responsibilities in administering Botox and filler by way of injection for cosmetic purposes. Skin doctor reveals the anti ageing tip that really 'turns back time' and the Boots buy that's 'Botox in a bottle' Botulinum toxin, which is commonly shortened to Botox, is a prescription only medicine in the UK and can only be administered by or under the supervision of a qualified medical professional. This includes doctors, dentists, and nurse or pharmacist prescribers who have completed specific prescribing courses. In the UK, a face-to-face pre-consultation with a qualified prescriber is now mandatory, following a change in regulations effective from June 1, 2025. The person giving the injections doesn't have to be the same person who provided the prescription, but the prescriber must ensure the person giving the injections is trained and can do so safely. It's also important to be aware Botox injections can cause a range of side effects, from common and mild to rare and severe. Common side effects include bruising, swelling, and pain at the injection site, as well as headaches. More serious potential side effects include drooping eyelids, crooked smiles, muscle weakness, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. Allergic reactions are also possible, although rare. Choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure The NHS offers of useful list of steps to follow when it comes to choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure. They should have the right training, skills and insurance to safely carry out the procedure. Book a consultation Always book a consultation with the person who will do the procedure before making your final decision. You should ask them: how many of these procedures they've done what qualifications and training they have if they're a member of a relevant professional association that shows they meet set standards in training and skill about the most common complications of the procedure what aftercare you can expect and who will look after you what to do if something goes wrong or you're not happy with the result how much it'll cost, and if it'll cost extra to have further treatment if needed They should then tell you exactly what the procedure involves and what to expect after. Do not pay for a procedure until you've had a consultation to make sure it's right for you. Check the person is qualified You can see if someone is qualified by checking they're registered with a suitable specialist association and trained in the right procedures.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Botox warning after unlicensed injections seized
A warning has been issued after "cheap" anti-wrinkle and filler injections bought from overseas were seized. Rochdale Borough Council said it had found the unlicensed products - which had no English labelling or instructions - at five business premises in the town where Botox and fillers were being advertised. It said some of the products could not be identified due to poor labelling, posing a potentially "very serious risk of injury". The businesses were referred to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which has the power to prosecute. The council said the products were found as part of routine checks to ensure Botox was not being administered to under 18s. It said it could not reveal the names of the businesses at present, and added that there was no evidence found of underage customers being given the cosmetic injections. 'Stay vigilant' Councillor Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader of the council, said: "While there's no issue with wanting to look younger, it's really important you do your homework beforehand with these types of treatment – especially given what our officers found."Know who your prescriber is and who will be administering your treatment. The unlicensed products we've uncovered potentially posed serious health and safety risks, so it's very important you stay vigilant."The council also urged anyone considering cosmetic procedures to check what training and experience providers have and what their insurance toxin, commonly shortened to Botox, is a prescription only product that is regulated by the states customers must first take part in a face-to-face pre-consultation with the prescriber of the Botox product to check their medical history. The prescriber must either be a doctor, dentist, nurse prescriber or pharmacist person administering the injections does not need to be the prescriber, but the prescriber is required to ensure they are properly trained. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bishop Auckland mother among 27 'poisoned' by fake Botox
In recent weeks, 28 people in the north-east of England have been left with potentially fatal botulism after having anti-wrinkle injections believed to have been fake. Such reactions are usually so rare hospitals stock very little anti-toxin and they were in danger of running out. On one night in June five people were in an accident and emergency department (A&E) in Durham suffering from serious adverse effects of anti-wrinkle injections - Nicola Fairley was one of days of having what she was told was a Botox jab, but which turned out to be an illegal copy, her throat began closing up, an eye swelled shut and one side of her face started to droop. She could not smile, struggled to eat and swallow, felt exhausted and was desperate to 37-year-old mother of four from Bishop Auckland in County Durham told staff she had been given injections and was unwell."They got the doctor to see me within five minutes and started some tests there and then," Mrs Fairley the 28 people, mostly in the Durham and Darlington areas, who have found themselves in a similar position, four others ended up in the same hospital on the same night as Mrs an average year, the University Hospital of North Durham usually sees no cases at all of botulism that require treatment. Only six were recorded in the whole of England in being approached by the BBC the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has set up an investigation. Botulinum toxin is widely used to reduce facial wrinkles and treat muscle conditions. While cosmetic practitioners do not need to be licensed, the drug does. Only seven brands are licensed in the UK, with Botox the most well used correctly the amounts are small and side effects are rare. But unregulated toxin, or larger quantities, can attack the nerves and cause botulism, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes paralysis. Mrs Fairley had anti-wrinkle injections before, paying £100 for three areas, but then won a round of treatment from the same provider in a competition. She was told it was a stronger type of the toxin and again had three areas says she had no idea this treatment was two hours her forehead was "frozen", although genuine cosmetic injections should take several days to start working with the full effect visible after two weeks. Of those in A&E at the same time, some had used the same practitioner as Mrs Fairley. They were all diagnosed with botulism and one doctor told the group they had never seen that many people with the condition at the same is so rare, hospitals do not typically keep large quantities of the anti-toxin - made from horse blood - that is used to stop the toxin spreading further. North Durham was already trying to source anti-toxin drugs from other hospitals as there had been a spate of cases in the days before Mrs Fairley and the others arrived in A& an internal communication seen by the BBC, a hospital leader said: "We've just about exhausted all stock of the antitoxin from local holders (Newcastle, Carlisle and Leeds) and have 10 more coming from London." They were "bracing" themselves for more MHRA told the BBC it was investigating allegations surrounding the illegal sale and supply of fake "Botox-type" products in the North East. Chief safety officer Dr Alison Cave said the body's criminal enforcement unit "works hard to identify those involved in the illegal trade in medicines".Buying anti-wrinkle injections and other medicines from illegal suppliers significantly increased the risk of getting a product which is either "falsified or not authorised" for use in the UK, she said. An aesthetic doctor based in Newcastle, Steven Land, believes anti-wrinkle injections in three areas for less than £150 is very cheap and this could suggest the supplier was using an illegal toxin. Dr Land, who has also worked in A&E, said he was contacted weekly by "fake pharmacies" offering to sell him the toxins for such small amounts he "knows they're illegal". Genuine injections were "very safe if done properly" but called for the industry to be regulated, he said. As things stand it is not regulated at all, with anyone able to provide cosmetic injections."Your provider should be able to show you the product they are using and be happy to answer any of your questions - and have the answers," he Land said he had been fearing a botulism outbreak for years, noticing more and more businesses in the region offering injections that were suspiciously cheap. An investigation into the cause of the recent cases of botulism is being led by the UK Health Security Agency with partners including Durham County Council's public health team. Director of public health Amanda Healy said they were urging anyone with symptoms to seek treatment. An incident management team had been set up to deal with the issue and they were working out if the cause of these incidents of botulism was the "type of toxin used or the way it was used", she said. Mrs Fairley says the business owner who gave her the injections has apologised. "I know she hasn't done this on purpose," Mrs Fairley says. "I just don't know where people get it from - it's scary. "There needs to be more rules and stricter guidelines on who can do it - not just anybody who can go and do a course and just do it. "There's that many people who do it - it's part of your beauty regime like getting your nails done or your hair." What happened, and the continuing side effects, has put Mrs Fairley off having cosmetic injections again. She urges anyone considering it to ask questions about the product and make sure it has been properly prescribed. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said people's lives were being put at risk by "inadequately trained operators in the cosmetic sector" and said this was why the government was looking into new regulations."We urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to consider the possible health impacts and find a reputable, insured and qualified practitioner," a spokesperson said. 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