New | Beware of fake Botox injections, China’s drugs watchdog warns
Warning comes following several people’s hospitalisation after receiving dodgy beauty treatment
Mainland authorities have warned consumers to beware of fake Botox injections after a series of high-profile medical blunders involving the substance in recent weeks.
The China Food and Drug Administration warned on its website on Thursday against patronising unqualified medical institutions offering fake Botox substances or using them inappropriately.
The warning came following recent news that several patients had been hospitalised after receiving injections of unknown substances in non-medical facilities.
The patients from Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces had sought such treatments to make their faces and legs slimmer.
At least four Hong Kong women were also reported sick after receiving Botox injections on the mainland in the past two months, according to Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection.
“We are very concerned about recent cases and are maintaining close liaison with the Hong Kong Poison Information Centre of the Hospital Authority, medical professionals, and Mainland health and drug regulatory counterparts to identify similar cases,” a Hong Kong Department of Health spokesman said.
Botox, hyaluronic acid and collagen have been commonly injected to cosmetically reform facial and body features. The popularity of these less-invasive alternatives to surgery are highly sought after. It has also led to a rise in fake Botox or substances touted as alternatives in an illegal industry with profit margins rivalling narcotics.
In March, the Nanjing public security bureau broke up 10 illegal distribution points, made 16 arrests and seized laboratory equipment and counterfeit drugs worth more than 10 million yuan (HK$12 million).
Among the contraband were bottles of fake Botox that sold for 8,000 yuan on the black market, which had been produced in residential apartments with freeze-dried ingredients that cost about 60 cents a bottle to produce.
Local media reported that Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital had received about 100 cases of botched plastic surgery in the past two years but the number had rapidly climbed this year to an average of 18 cases a month from January to April, more than double the same period last year.
The administration warned that inappropriate use of Botox could result in weakened muscles, numbness, respiratory failure and even cardiac arrest in serious cases.
All providers of Botox treatments are required to obtain a practising licence for operating in medical facilities.
The administration consumers to visit only facilities that were fully licensed and operated by medically qualified staff.
It has so far approved only two types of Botox treatments for injections – one produced by Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland and the other by the Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products.
Dr Neil Wang, China president of Frost & Sullivan, a global market research company, said the lack of monitoring had allowed illegal manufacturers to supply substandard substances to unlicensed beauty institutions.
“Botox injection require highly trained technicians with professional medical qualifications. An injection of more than 2,500 units will result in death,” Wang said. “The national regulator should crack down on illegally imported and unlicensed local Botox manufacturers and inspect distributors to uncover unlicensed operators.”
