Dangers of Backstreet Botox

By Sharon Bell - 2007-09-20 - Article viewed 50 times. Find more articles like this in our Skin Disorders category.

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Bonnie Kaplan, 53, had a few wrinkles and she believed Botox was the answer.

Celebrities were endorsing it; many people were using it, and her friends were into it. What could possibly go wrong, she thought.

Without any hesitation, she visited a private clinic in Florida for some shots. Her dream was to be wrinkle-free. Little did she know her short visit would turn into a nightmare.

"The consequences were horrific. Thirty-six hours after the injections, Bonnie started to have problems breathing and was so weak she couldn't walk," reported Claire Coleman in the Daily Mail. "She was rushed to the hospital and, as botulism set in, her nerves were damaged. Within hours, her whole body was paralyzed," she continued.

Later, Kaplan would learn that the doctor she visited wasn't a dermatologist but an osteopath. To make matters worse, he had injected her with a different form of the botulinum toxin - one that was intended for lab research rather than for use in humans.

"Doctors think she may have received up to 2,500 times the amount of toxin believed to be lethal if injected into the bloodstream," Coleman wrote. "After spending months in hospital, breathing with the help of a ventilator and unable to speak, Bonnie was eventually able to move around in a wheelchair, but doctors warned that the possibility of a full recovery was slim and could take years," she added.

Kaplan wasn't the only person to take the deadly injections. Her husband Eric, 52, also received the shots. So did the doctor himself Bach McComb, 47, and his girlfriend Alma Hall, 34. All three were hospitalized.

Authorities are worried that what happened to Kaplan and the three others could also be happening to other people this very minute. As the popularity of Botox grows and treatments become more accessible, who is to stop any Tom, Dick or Harry from giving you a shot?

"It is not adequate to blindly stick a needle in someone's face with scant knowledge of the potential risks that can include facial necrosis or disfigurement," according to John Curran, chair of the British Association of Cosmetics Doctors (BACD).

But doctors said that is exactly what's happening today due to lax regulations that can easily be bypassed by enterprising individuals out to make a fast buck at the expense of others. Coleman pointed out that while Botox is a prescription drug that can only be obtained by a doctor, anyone can inject it under the guidance of a doctor.

"If I decided to set up a salon offering Botox and filler shots to the public at £150 a time, all I need to do is find a doctor prepared to give or sell me Botox and show me how to inject it. Then, despite the fact I have absolutely no medical training, I would be acting within the law. But even if I couldn't find an accommodating doctor, the widespread availability of Botox and other injectable products on the internet means that I could get my hands on pretty much anything I needed," Coleman explained.

Until more stringent laws are passed and the industry learns to regulate itself, your best bet is to get Botox injections from a qualified doctor. Don't be ashamed to check your doctor's credentials since your face is on the line and things could get ugly if you're not careful.

Another alternative is to use a product that works like Botox minus the side effects. One popular brand is the Rejuvinol AM/PM Botox Alternative Age-Defying System. This anti-aging system has two powerful components: the Rejuvinol morning moisturizer that creates firmer, healthier, and younger-looking skin; and the Rejuvox night cream that reduces fine lines and wrinkles. For more information, go to rejuvinol.com

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine healthnfitnesszone.com