WARNINGS OVER THE DIY BOTOX KIT
A DIY BOTOX kit has been found for sale on popular auction website eBay, and has been quickly removed from the site amid concerns about lack of regulation of the sale of potentially harmful cosmetic treatments. The DIY BOTOX kit has been quickly removed amid concerns potentially harmful cosmetic treatments.
The DIY kit selling at £62 for the pack contained needles, BOTOX powder made from the toxic botulinum bacteria, saline to mix with the powder, and a facial map showing where to inject the drug.
But healthcare professionals fear consumers will overlook the fact BOTOX is a powerful prescription-only medicine.
Sarah Kidner, Editor of Which? Computing, who made the worrying discovery, said: “We were appalled that we were able to buy a DIY BOTOX kit so easily and we are concerned that the internet is becoming a marketplace for cut-price cosmetic treatments.”
David Ross, Chief Executive of The Hospital Group, said: “Consumers should only seek treatments for BOTOX from recognised and trained medical aesthetic healthcare practitioners, so news of DIY kits being so easily available is terrifying.
A spokesperson for Allergan, who supply BOTOX to The Hospital Group, said: “VISTABEL and BOTOX are prescription medications, which means that it’s illegal for these products to be sold to a consumer without a prescription from a registered healthcare professional.
“Allergan has stringent procedures in place to control the distribution of VISTABEL and BOTOX (botulinum toxin type A). Allergan only distributes VISTABEL and BOTOX to registered healthcare professionals as defined by the legislation in the UK. In addition, Allergan take the strongest legal action possible against any activity involving illegal distribution of our product.”
Antonia Mariconda – MyFaceMyBody Journalist.
