In the United States, many prescription-only drugs are available online and without a doctor’s supervision. Do-it-yourself Botox kits have become increasingly popular, and as a Botox dermatologist Westchester physician Dr. Michelle Abadir warns against using “bootleg Botox” kits.
According to a recent NBC special report, Botox kits manufactured in India, China and even in the US are becoming more widely available online, and sites featuring botched Botox jobs are also growing. As injecting Botox requires medical training for proper sterilization and injection techniques plus advanced knowledge of the human facial musculature, people without dermatological training should not inject Botox for the sake of personal safety and good results. In addition to improper sterilization causing a potentially life-threatening infection, knock-off Botox kits may feature a false version of the active ingredient or may be contaminated. These harmful substances can cause permanent damage to the face or even death.
NBC reporters purchased one of the DIY Botox kits online for $152. The kit features two alcohol cleaning pads, a numbing cream, two syringes, and two vials (one of which is the Botox – the two must be mixed together before injecting). It also included an instruction sheet and a picture of the human facial muscles intended to help show users how and where to inject themselves.
Botox do-it-yourselfers have a host of potential side effects and medical problems to look forward to. “It’s a catastrophe waiting to happen,” says dermatologist Dr. Tracy Favreau. “Paralysis of one side of the face so it droops, they can get ptosis of the eye, which is a common complication; they can get an abscess, a really bad infection; or even worse than that, a staph infection.” Doctors say that any Botox product selling for less than $9 per unit should signal danger. Doctors typically sell their Botox for $15 per unit, and the kit that NBC reporters ordered online featured a 100-unit vial that sold for under $2 per unit.
With more and more people choosing Botox to look younger and stay ahead, it’s important to stay safe and make healthy choices with cosmetic procedures. For more information on Botox safety from a dermatologist in Westchester County, visit Dr. Abadir online.
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I have a friend that used one of those kits at home by herself and not only was really painful but also she now needs to go to the doctor every week because of the awful consequences. Her face doesn’t look nice.