Undercover Investigation: Unlicensed Botox Injections and Counterfeit Drugs

The Dangers of Unlicensed Cosmetic Procedures

• ⚠️ Cosmetic injections like Botox and lip filler are popular, but health officials warn of a rise in unlicensed operators.
• 💡 These operators often use cheap, counterfeit drugs shipped from overseas, which can lead to devastating results.
• 📌 Lindsay Doran experienced severe swelling and lumps for over a year after receiving injections from a spa owner claiming to be a Harvard-educated nurse, who was later found to be using bogus products.

Cracking Down on Counterfeit Cosmetics

• 🕵️ US Border Protection Officer Eric Zizzleman states that counterfeit Botox is a daily occurrence for his team.
• 📦 They use X-ray machines and trained canines to intercept packages from overseas, looking for narcotics, guns, and counterfeit goods.
• 🚩 A major red flag for counterfeit cosmetic injections is non-English packaging, such as Botox labeled in Turkish.

Undercover Investigation in New Jersey

• 🎬 Inside Edition investigative producers went undercover to a New Jersey med spa where the Botox bottles in the lobby had Turkish labels.
• 🩺 The spa's operator, Dr. Adrien Var, was identified as a cosmetologist, not a medical professional, despite administering Botox for 14 years, which is illegal in New Jersey.
• 💉 The undercover producer narrowly avoided receiving injections when she expressed discomfort with needles.

Expert Warnings and Advice

• 🚨 Certified dermatologist Dr. Paul Jared Frank warns that unregulated, potent substances injected into the bloodstream could lead to decreased lung function or body paralysis.
• 🗣️ He advises consumers to always ask about a provider's training, how long they have been practicing, and to request to see the product being used.
• ✅ The makers of Botox confirm they investigate reports of counterfeits and state their authentic products are safe.