Latest news with #Botox
ITV News
3 hours ago
- Health
- ITV News
'My head swelled instantly': Hull woman claims Botox mix-up could have left her blind
A woman who was injected with dermal filler instead of Botox says the botched procedure could have left her blind. Lisa Smith, from Hull, went for routine Botox - a procedure designed to reduce the appearance of lines - in December 2023 at Blu Aesthetics. But halfway into the treatment, she said she was in excruciating pain and told the practitioner, Abigail Lawson, to stop. Lisa, 34, said she instantly developed a lump in her forehead, which Ms Lawson claimed may have been the result of an infection. It was only when she sought a second opinion that she was told she had been injected with what appeared to be dermal filler - a treatment not advised in the forehead because of the high risk of complication. Lisa said: 'I found out from several practitioners since that this could have caused necrosis, which is death of the tissue, pulmonary embolism, strokes, even blindness. 'I realised how big this was.' Botox injections are shots that use a toxin to prevent a muscle from moving for a limited time and are often used to smooth wrinkles on the face. Dermal fillers are injections that plump up wrinkles and smooth lines, usually in the areas around the eyes, mouth and nose. Lisa added: 'I'd had Botox two or three times before with Abi. No issues, no pain or anything. But this time, it was just significant pain from the off. 'I believe she only did three injections before I asked her to stop and my head was just swelling instantly and I ended up leaving the appointment without getting the things that I'd paid for.' Ms Lawson denies having having injected filler and said she would never have carried out the treatment had she been asked. But ITV News showed the pictures of Lisa's treatment to retired plastic surgeon Paul Baguley, who confirmed that Lisa lumps appeared to have been caused by filler. He said such issues are increasingly common because the practice of non-surgical treatments like Botox and filler are unregulated in England. 'It's like the wild, wild west out there," he said. 'You could go and set up yourself as a practitioner and inject botulinum toxin and filler and do injectables and not be registered. 'It's so easy to call yourself an aesthetic practitioner when you're not trained to do it.' After Lisa posted about her experience online, a number of other women contacted her to share their negative experiences with Ms Lawson. Leah Rushworth said she paid hundreds of pounds to complete a dermal filler training course with her in February and received a certificate claiming she was accredited by Beauty Industry Approval (BIA). But the BIA has confirmed Ms Lawson is not accredited and the certificates are invalid. Leah said: 'It's just confusing, really, and quite hurtful. 'I've got two young children and I was just trying to make a better life for me and the children. And now it's just gone downhill. Can't do that now.' ITV News has seen evidence from four further clients who have all been given the same certificates. Many claim Abigail has since blocked them from getting in contact and has not issued refunds. Ms Lawson's lawyers, Pepperells Solicitors, told ITV Calendar their client denied Lisa's claims she had been injected with dermal filler by Ms Lawson. In a statement they said: "If she had been asked to perform that treatment, she would have said that it was not possible and should not be done. This would be based on her training and seven years experience since qualifying. "It is therefore suggested that perhaps [Lisa] may have approached another practitioner with the same request and gone ahead with that process and been mistaken that it was our client who undertook that treatment." Pepperells said that the certificate provided to Leah Rushworth had shown the BIA accreditation due to a "printing error". 'Our client is CPD accredited, not BIA," the spokesperson said. "This is a printing error in the requested logo on the certificates created. It has been an unfortunate error that has only recently come to light which has been addressed as soon as it arose. "Our client has emailed the marketing/printing company regarding this, however as of yet are still waiting upon a response. 'These certificates were not deliberately created to be misleading. No refunds have been issued for completed courses as our client maintains that these are valid qualifications. Our client will replace them as soon as she is able to do so.' Blu Aesthetics has since been dissolved as a company.
CNN
4 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
Dozens in northeast England report symptoms of potentially deadly botulism after getting Botox
Health officials in the UK are investigating reports of dozens of people suffering from a potentially life-threatening condition following Botox procedures in northeastern England, as well as allegations of the illegal sale of Botox-like products. The local trust of the UK's National Health Service (NHS) in the county of Durham put out an alert on June 13 about several people seeking medical attention after having adverse reactions to cosmetic procedures involving Botox. Since the incident first came to light last week, 28 individuals have reported symptoms of botulism after receiving cosmetic procedures, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) told CNN in a statement Friday. Botulism is a life-threatening condition caused by toxins made by Clostridium botulinum bacteria that attack the nervous system and cause paralysis. 'These toxins (but not the bacteria) are the active ingredient in Botox and similar products,' Dr. Joanne Darke, a consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said in the statement, adding that it is 'important to go to a licensed practitioner.' Iatrogenic botulism is a type of botulism that occurs when too much of the cosmetic form, Botox, is injected into a muscle. Botox is a leading cosmetic treatment for wrinkles, as well as for medical conditions such as migraines and excessive sweating. The UKHSA said the reactions reported have included symptoms of severe drooping of the upper eyelids, double vision, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and lethargy. Other symptoms of botulism can include facial muscle weakness. Botulism requires immediate medical attention and is fatal in 5-10% of cases, according to the NHS website. While most people make a full recovery with treatment, which typically involves getting injections with antitoxins, without quick care, paralysis can spread to muscles used to control breathing. While investigations into the cause of the cases are ongoing, the UKHSA said that 'evidence so far does not suggest that the product used has been contaminated. Symptoms are being reported a few days up to four weeks after injection.' 'The practitioners associated with most of the reported cases are no longer carrying out these procedures,' said Dr. Simon Howard, a consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, in the statement. 'However, that does not mean that we may not see more cases as symptoms can take up to four weeks to develop although we are now seeing the number of cases coming forward decreasing which is encouraging news,' he continued. Howard advised people to ensure they take precautions when seeking aesthetic procedures and advised anyone with symptoms to seek medical attention. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) told CNN Friday that it is investigating 'allegations surrounding the illegal sale and supply of Botox-type products in the North-East, and want to reassure the public that we take such claims very seriously.' The agency encouraged people in the UK who believe they have had side effects from medicine or received falsified stock to report it to its Yellow Card program. 'Our Criminal Enforcement Unit works hard to identify those involved in the illegal trade in medicines and takes robust enforcement action where necessary. This can include criminal prosecution,' Dr. Alison Cave, chief safety officer at MHRA, said in the statement. 'Botulinum toxin (Botox) is a prescription-only medicine and should only be available in the UK under the supervision of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional,' she continued. In the United States, a growing cluster of botulism cases linked to cosmetic injections was reported in Massachusetts earlier this month. The state's Department of Health said it was investigating 10 cases of suspected iatrogenic botulism all associated with Botox procedures performed at one spa, Rodrigo Beauty.
CNN
6 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
Dozens in northeast England report symptoms of potentially deadly botulism after getting Botox
Health officials in the UK are investigating reports of dozens of people suffering from a potentially life-threatening condition following Botox procedures in northeastern England, as well as allegations of the illegal sale of Botox-like products. The local trust of the UK's National Health Service (NHS) in the county of Durham put out an alert on June 13 about several people seeking medical attention after having adverse reactions to cosmetic procedures involving Botox. Since the incident first came to light last week, 28 individuals have reported symptoms of botulism after receiving cosmetic procedures, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) told CNN in a statement Friday. Botulism is a life-threatening condition caused by toxins made by Clostridium botulinum bacteria that attack the nervous system and cause paralysis. 'These toxins (but not the bacteria) are the active ingredient in Botox and similar products,' Dr. Joanne Darke, a consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said in the statement, adding that it is 'important to go to a licensed practitioner.' Iatrogenic botulism is a type of botulism that occurs when too much of the cosmetic form, Botox, is injected into a muscle. Botox is a leading cosmetic treatment for wrinkles, as well as for medical conditions such as migraines and excessive sweating. The UKHSA said the reactions reported have included symptoms of severe drooping of the upper eyelids, double vision, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and lethargy. Other symptoms of botulism can include facial muscle weakness. Botulism requires immediate medical attention and is fatal in 5-10% of cases, according to the NHS website. While most people make a full recovery with treatment, which typically involves getting injections with antitoxins, without quick care, paralysis can spread to muscles used to control breathing. While investigations into the cause of the cases are ongoing, the UKHSA said that 'evidence so far does not suggest that the product used has been contaminated. Symptoms are being reported a few days up to four weeks after injection.' 'The practitioners associated with most of the reported cases are no longer carrying out these procedures,' said Dr. Simon Howard, a consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, in the statement. 'However, that does not mean that we may not see more cases as symptoms can take up to four weeks to develop although we are now seeing the number of cases coming forward decreasing which is encouraging news,' he continued. Howard advised people to ensure they take precautions when seeking aesthetic procedures and advised anyone with symptoms to seek medical attention. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) told CNN Friday that it is investigating 'allegations surrounding the illegal sale and supply of Botox-type products in the North-East, and want to reassure the public that we take such claims very seriously.' The agency encouraged people in the UK who believe they have had side effects from medicine or received falsified stock to report it to its Yellow Card program. 'Our Criminal Enforcement Unit works hard to identify those involved in the illegal trade in medicines and takes robust enforcement action where necessary. This can include criminal prosecution,' Dr. Alison Cave, chief safety officer at MHRA, said in the statement. 'Botulinum toxin (Botox) is a prescription-only medicine and should only be available in the UK under the supervision of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional,' she continued. In the United States, a growing cluster of botulism cases linked to cosmetic injections was reported in Massachusetts earlier this month. The state's Department of Health said it was investigating 10 cases of suspected iatrogenic botulism all associated with Botox procedures performed at one spa, Rodrigo Beauty.
Mint
8 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
How weight-loss drugs blew out the US trade deficit
Planes have been jetting from Ireland to the U.S. this year carrying something more valuable than gold: $36 billion worth of hormones for popular obesity and diabetes drugs. The frantic airlift of those ingredients—more than double what was imported from Ireland for all of last year—reflects the collision of two powerful forces: tariff-driven stockpiling and weight-loss drug demand. The peptide and protein-based hormones feed into a category of drugs that include wildly popular GLP-1 treatments and newer types of insulin known as analogues. Taken together the shipments weighed just 23,400 pounds, according to U.S. trade data, equivalent to the weight of less than four Tesla Cybertrucks. Fit into temperature-controlled air cargo containers, the pharmaceutical ingredients have had a huge impact on the U.S. trade imbalance. The shipments have vaulted Ireland, a country of only 5.4 million people, into the second-largest goods-trade imbalance with the U.S., trailing only China. They accounted for roughly half of the $71 billion in goods the U.S. imported from the country in the first four months of the year. Nearly 100% of the imports had a final destination of Indiana, according to U.S. customs records. Eli Lilly, the drug giant behind weight loss and diabetes drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, is headquartered in Indianapolis. A Lilly spokeswoman declined to comment. President Trump's off-and-on trade war has rewritten global trading patterns this year and—temporarily, at least—widened some of the imbalances he is seeking to eliminate. Companies have scrambled to get shipments to the U.S. ahead of tariff deadlines, with a first round of front-loading ahead of the April 2 announcement, and smaller pushes after the White House paused some of its tariffs. Ireland is at the epicenter of the global rush. It is a major hub for U.S. drug giants, who have been expanding operations there in part because of Ireland's favorable tax policies. Some of the bestselling drugs in the world, such as AbbVie's anti-wrinkle treatment Botox, and U.S. drugmaker Merck's cancer treatment Keytruda, are made in the country. 'It's common sense. It's uncertain at the moment, so you're building a bit of security by stockpiling," said Matt Moran, a consultant and former director of industry group BioPharmaChem Ireland. 'There's such huge demand for those products at the moment." The trade imbalance has put Ireland into an uncomfortable position, landing it earlier this month on the U.S. Treasury Department's monitoring list for currency manipulation, which the government uses to send a warning shot to countries it thinks use unfair trade practices. Ireland's central bank said in a report Thursday that new factories making weight-loss drug ingredients helped drive the country's exports. Ireland's first-quarter economic growth expanded by nearly 10% in the first quarter thanks to the export surge. The attention is 'definitely not welcome," said Dan O'Brien, chief economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs, a Dublin think tank. 'A very big part of the U.S.-EU deficit is accounted for by Ireland alone. Trump doesn't like deficits." The White House wants American drug companies to bring production home and in April ordered a so-called Section 232 investigation that could result in tariffs on both imported drugs and ingredients like hormones. Trump said this week that such tariffs could come 'very soon." Lilly is a force in the market for weight-loss drugs, with sales of its GLP-1 medicines Mounjaro and Zepbound expected to nearly double this year to about $30 billion, according to Bank of America analysts. Maintaining supply of weight-loss drugs has been a challenge for both Lilly and rival Novo Nordisk, the Danish maker of Ozempic and Wegovy. The companies were initially unable to keep up with demand for the drugs. Lilly resolved the shortages faster, helping it to take market share from Novo. Lilly is now preparing for the potential launch of a weight-loss pill, orforglipron, which it plans to submit for U.S. approval later this year. Lilly said it began producing weight-loss and diabetes medicines at its Irish factory in Kinsale in 2023. Novo doesn't produce weight-loss drugs in Ireland, according to a spokeswoman. Peptide and protein-based hormones help to regulate processes such as appetite and metabolism. The category includes hormones that mimic a naturally occurring gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, but can also be used in some fertility and osteoporosis treatments. Shipping and logistics companies say they have noticed increased demand for pharma shipments, which often travel by air instead of on cheaper ocean freighters because they are so light and valuable. Pharma shipments more than doubled from Ireland to the U.S. in March and April, according to data firm WorldACD. Kuehne + Nagel, a Swiss logistics company with operations in the country, said its teams did overtime to accommodate the increase in booking requests and the customs paperwork. 'We didn't see the same increase from Ireland to the rest of the world. That was not a global trend," said Nico Sacco, the company's senior vice president of healthcare strategy. Imports of vaccines and various other drugs including cancer treatments also increased this year from Ireland, according to trade data. Merck produces cancer treatment Keytruda, the world's bestselling drug, in Ireland, among other places. Merck Chief Executive Rob Davis in April said the company has enough supply to mitigate any impact this year from tariffs and is working on navigating the long-term fallout of tariffs. Merck recently began construction on its first U.S. plant to make Keytruda. Lilly said earlier this year it plans to invest $27 billion in expanding U.S. production. The hormones are often freeze dried and shipped as powders. Obesity-related drugs can fly in the cargo sections of passenger planes, or on cargo flights reserved for pharma products, said Anand Kulkarni, head of global markets at Lufthansa Cargo. Lufthansa saw demand for U.S.-bound pharma shipments from locations such as India, Switzerland and Belgium. Volumes began to dip in April as warehouses in the U.S. reached capacity, he said. To increase shipments, drug companies likely tapped existing stocks and diverted production destined for the rest of the world to the U.S. market instead, industry executives said. 'You can't just switch on capacity. You don't go out and buy machines and start them up," said Moran, the consultant. 'They have to be built, commissioned, validated, and approved by the regulator." Write to Chelsey Dulaney at and Jared S. Hopkins at
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
I almost died after having the new 'safer' Brazilian butt lift. Here's the vital advice anyone thinking of having the procedure needs to know
Sasha Dean took pride in her appearance and, as well as regular workouts to maintain a toned figure, she had fillers and Botox to help her keep a youthful complexion – but 'the one thing I felt let me down was my backside', she says. 'I felt one side was rounded while the other was flat.' After workouts with a personal trainer failed to achieve the shape she wanted, Sasha, 54, opted to have a liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL) – a non-surgical procedure where filler is injected into the buttocks to make it bigger, more rounded or lifted.
