Faulty Aesthetic Procedures and Counterfeit Botox Pose Life-Threatening Risks

Prof. Dr. Zekayi Kutlubay, Head of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, stated that non-expert and faulty aesthetic interventions pave the way for permanent organ loss and life-threatening risks.

Prof. Dr. Kutlubay stated that portraying aesthetic procedures as very simple on social media creates a false perception. Emphasizing that permanent blindness can develop if needle-based applications are performed on blood vessels, nerves, or incorrect muscle tissue, Kutlubay shared that there are more than 150 reported cases of permanent blindness worldwide and 2 in Turkey due to faulty aesthetic applications.

Stating that they provide training to dermatologists on vascular anatomy and the management of potential complications, Kutlubay drew attention to the life-threatening risks of unlicensed and counterfeit botox products. He expressed that contents exceeding the dose stated on the label can paralyze respiratory muscles through a toxin effect and cause patients to end up in intensive care.

Noting that trends in the aesthetic field are shifting from dermal fillers to natural methods that trigger collagen and elastin production in the skin, Kutlubay stated that exosome applications, a cellular treatment method, have come to the fore. He recorded that new-generation technological devices rejuvenate the skin without isolating patients from social life and are used in the treatment of vascular structures.