Beware of Faux Botox
Don't be afraid to verify that the medical degree hanging on the wall is real by checking with the college and medical associations. Second, any real medical professional will always perform the Botox procedures at their office,not a kiosk at a mall.
Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) April 04, 2016
In the ongoing quest to maintain a healthy, youthful appearance, individuals are willing to go to great lengths to achieve their dreams. This has led to a significant rise in cosmetic procedures, and one product, Botox, has really embedded itself into the popular consciousness. While Botox does have marked medical applications, it has primarily soared to its current level of popularity due to its ability to banish wrinkles due to paralyzing facial muscles. The number of Botox procedures being done on a yearly basis has skyrocketed since 2000. In that year, there were a total of 786,911 Botox procedures done, and that number has since surged to 6,673,608 by 2014. (1) There is no doubt that Botox is big business, which can be seen in that the manufacturer of Botox, Allergan, sold $2.2 billion worth of Botox in 2014 alone. (2) Such financial success also means that criminal enterprises will try to get a slice of the action for themselves. As such, licensed medical professionals, such as Dr. John R. Burroughs of Springs Aesthetics, have warned patients to be on the lookout for scammers peddling fake or diluted versions of Botox.
Botox has definitely become mainstream over the last decade, even to the point where people are throwing Botox parties where they and their friends drink wine while getting injections. Medical associations, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, do not recommend such events as such injections should always take place in a sterile environment by an experienced medical professional, such as Dr. John R. Burroughs of Springs Aesthetics. As Botox is a minimally invasive procedure, its cost is less than other cosmetic procedures, such as facelifts. In 2015, the average cost for a Botox treatment ranged from $350 to $500 for each area injected. (3) Yet it seems that a good number of people are always willing to look for a cheaper bargain, even for medical care. For the sake of a few dollars, people are willing to trust a shady or unlicensed person to inject them with what they believe is legitimate Botox, which is what criminals are looking for while selling their illegal wares. The results of being injected with diluted or fake Botox can be disastrous.
Normal FDA-approved Botox is manufactured from the botulinum neurotoxin, which is the most lethal toxin known in the world. The median lethal dose for botulinum neurotoxin is a mere 1.3 to 2.1 nanograms if ingested. (4) Of course, Botox itself is quite safe when administered by a licensed ophthalmologist, such as Dr. John R. Burroughs of Springs Aesthetics. The real danger rears its head when the injection is a form of fake Botox or a diluted version of the legitimate product. A lot of criminals and scammers look to make a quick buck by offering Botox injections that are priced far cheaper than what one would pay at a licensed medical clinic. It seems that every few years sees the FDA issuing another warning about an uptick in fake Botox hitting the market. One such incident occurred in 2004 when a osteopath in South Florida, who had a suspended license, injected himself and three others with improperly diluted amounts of the raw toxin. The result was that all four were hospitalized in critical condition with botulism. (5)
Individuals can literally put their health at considerable risk by choosing to get a Botox injection at a discounted rate from an unlicensed person. As Dr. John R. Burroughs of Springs Aesthetics notes, "A regrettable side effect of the popularity of Botox in removing wrinkles is that unscrupulous people are quite willing to sell fake versions of Botox or dilute the actual drug so that its effects are negligible. While it is prudent to shop around for the best possible deal when buying things, such as household items, your medical well-being is one area where one shouldn't scrimp to save a few dollars. Botox is incredibly popular, which means that it's also big bucks. A lot of criminals are looking to make some easy money by distributing diluted forms of Botox or fake versions that are made out of God knows what. You should always be on the lookout for these bogus injections, and the best defense is knowledge and common sense. Before getting any medical procedure done, the practitioner will sit down and discuss the patient's medical history and any potential complications. Another point to remember is that all procedures by a real licensed individual will take place in a sterile medical environment, such as an office or clinic. Having a friend of a friend offer to hook you up with a Botox treatment from the trunk of their car is a recipe for disaster. Some of the potential side effects from getting diluted or fake Botox injections include paralysis, damaged nerves, and even death." (6)
One should always be aware of the harmful effects of receiving a fake Botox injection. There are steps that a person can take to safeguard their health when looking to smooth away those wrinkles with an injection of Botox. First, one should make sure that they're dealing with a legitimate medical professional, such as Dr. John R. Burroughs of Springs Aesthetics. Don't be afraid to verify that the medical degree hanging on the wall is real by checking with the college and medical associations. Second, any real medical professional will always perform the Botox procedures at their office, not out of their car or at a kiosk. A final method to protect oneself from fake Botox is to inspect the label of the product to ensure that it is FDA-approved and is for use in humans. If one feels any suspicion that they will not be getting a legitimate Botox injection, do not get the procedure done and then notify the appropriate authorities. Cutting corners to save a few dollars is not a wise decision when it comes to one's health.
About Springs Aesthetics and Dr. John R. Burroughs of Colorado Springs, CO, 80907 - Dr. Burroughs is a specialist of the eyelids, orbits and face. Dr. Burroughs has treated tens of thousands of patients, and is a “doctor’s doctor” frequently requested by other physicians and nurses to perform surgery on themselves or their family members. He has performed thousands of periocular and facial procedures and surgeries. He has 20 years of botulinum neuromodulator (Botox®) experience, and also offers at Springs Aesthetics Medspa non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments with dermal fillers, chemical peels, fraxel, skin tightening, cellulite reduction, photofacials, laser hair removal, and Latisse®. Dr. Burroughs is often asked to lecture upon, write, and review professional publications on topics of eyelid, facial rejuvenation, and reconstruction. He is frequently consulted, by other surgeons, to repair complications arising from surgery performed around the eyes. He performs over a 1000 surgical procedures on over 600 patients annually.
References:
1) http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Documents/news-resources/statistics/2014-statistics/plastic-surgery-statsitics-full-report.pdf
2) http://www.securingindustry.com/cosmetics-and-personal-care/fake-botox-run-of-the-mill-problem-or-security-threat-/s106/a2473/#.VrLwfeZBWUk
3) http://www.docshop.com/education/dermatology/injectables/botox/cost
4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum_toxin
5) http://www.dailynews.com/article/ZZ/20090126/NEWS/901269887
6) Quote from Dr. John R. Burroughs, ophthalmologist at Springs Aesthetics