Doctors warn of botox risks as fourth Hong Kong woman develops botulism after treatment in mainland China
Local clinics see rise in number of patients requiring follow-up treatment after visiting beauty centres across the border
Doctors warned of botox-related side effects after four cases of botulism, all involving local women getting injections in mainland China, were reported the space of a week.
The four women, aged between 21 and 47, developed potentially fatal complications such as difficulty in swallowing and breathing, and were admitted into hospitals for further treatment.
The Medical Association advised the public to understand the functions and potential risks of botox injections before getting them, and to have the procedures performed by qualified doctors in Hong Kong.
Compared to last year, private dermatologists this year noticed a 20 to 30 per cent rise in the number of patients who required follow-up treatment at local clinics after receiving beauty treatments on the mainland.
“All information available now only highlights the benefits without mentioning the risks,” Dr Kingsley Chan Hau-ngai, a private dermatologist and council member of the Medical Association, said.
Apart from patients suffering less severe side effects such as headaches and bruising, Chan has treated a 47-year-old woman who could not open her right eye after having botox done elsewhere.