You may have seen headlines recently about concerning botulism cases in the North East of England, directly linked to individuals receiving “Botox” from unqualified practitioners using unregulated, fake products. This is a serious issue that affects everyone considering aesthetic treatments, and it’s vital to understand the dangers.
At Jayne Taylor Aesthetics, your safety and well-being are our absolute priority. We believe in empowering our clients with knowledge, so let’s break down why “cheap” can come at a devastating cost.
What Happened in the North East?
Recent reports have highlighted a number of individuals in the North East suffering from severe symptoms resembling botulism after receiving what they believed to be anti-wrinkle injections. These symptoms included:
- Severe drooping of the upper eyelids
- Double vision
- Difficulty swallowing
- Slurred speech
- Lethargy (extreme tiredness)
- In some severe cases, difficulty breathing
These are not mild side effects. Botulism is a rare but life-threatening condition that occurs when the botulinum toxin (the active ingredient in legitimate Botox) spreads beyond the intended injection site and impacts other parts of the body, leading to muscle paralysis.
The key factor in these cases? The injections were administered by non-medical practitioners using fake, unregulated products.
The Truth About “Botox”
The word “Botox” is often used as a general term for anti-wrinkle injections, but it’s actually a specific brand name for botulinum toxin type A. There are other legitimate brands available, but here’s what you MUST know:
- Prescription-Only Medicine: Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine (POM). This means it can only be prescribed after a face-to-face consultation by a qualified healthcare professional, such as a doctor, dentist, or nurse prescriber. It is illegal for non-prescribers to obtain and administer it directly.
- Strict Regulation: Legitimate botulinum toxin products are subject to stringent regulations by bodies like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK. They are manufactured under strict conditions to ensure their safety, purity, and correct potency.
- “Fake” or “Counterfeit” Products: The recent cases involved fake products. These might be:
- Completely unverified substances: You have no idea what’s actually being injected into your face. It could be anything from saline to dangerous contaminants.
- Unregulated products: Even if they contain some botulinum toxin, they are often manufactured in unsterile environments, with inconsistent concentrations, making them incredibly risky. Too much can cause severe side effects like those seen in the North East; too little means no results, but you’ve still paid for a dangerous procedure.
- Products purchased from illegal suppliers: These are not subject to any quality control.
Licensed Botulinum Toxin Brands in the UK
To ensure your safety, it’s crucial that any botulinum toxin product used for cosmetic purposes is licensed for use in the UK. This means it has gone through rigorous testing and approval processes by the MHRA.
The currently licensed brands of botulinum toxin for cosmetic use in the UK include:
- Azzalure®
- Bocouture®
- Botox®
- Alluzience®
- Letybo®
- Nuceiva®
- Relfydess® (recently licensed in May 2025)
If you are offered a product that is not on this list (e.g., Botulax, reNTox, Innotox, or other unrecognised names), it is unlicensed and potentially dangerous. Be highly suspicious of any practitioner using or advertising such products.
Why “Cheap” is NOT Good When It Comes to Your Face
The allure of a cheaper price for aesthetic treatments can be strong, but as these recent cases tragically demonstrate, it’s a false economy.
- Risk to Your Health: The most critical danger is the direct threat to your health. Botulism is a serious medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalisation and treatment. The long-term effects of injecting unknown substances can also be severe.
- Unqualified Practitioners: “Cheap” often goes hand-in-hand with practitioners who lack the necessary medical training, understanding of anatomy, and ability to manage complications. This dramatically increases your risk.
- Lack of Insurance and Accountability: If something goes wrong with an unregulated treatment, you may have no recourse for compensation or proper medical care.
- Poor Results & Disfigurement: Even if you avoid severe medical complications, fake products and unskilled hands are highly likely to lead to unsatisfactory or even disfiguring cosmetic results, which can be distressing and costly to correct.
- A False Economy: What seems like a saving upfront can lead to enormous medical bills, corrective treatments, and significant emotional distress.
How to Ensure Your Safety: Choose Wisely!
At jayne Taylor Aesthetics, we urge you to prioritise your safety above all else. Here’s what to look for when considering any aesthetic treatment:
- Medically Qualified Practitioner: Always choose a practitioner who is a qualified doctor, dentist, pharmacist or registered nurse prescriber. Check their registration with professional bodies like the General Medical Council (GMC), General Dental Council (GDC), or Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
- Face-to-Face Consultation & Prescription: A legitimate practitioner will always conduct a thorough, in-person consultation, discuss your medical history, and only then prescribe the appropriate product.
- Transparency About Products: Don’t hesitate to ask about the specific product being used. A reputable clinic will be happy to tell you the brand name and demonstrate that it’s a legitimate, regulated product from the list above.
- Clean, Professional Environment: Treatments should always be carried out in a clinical, sterile environment, not someone’s home, a salon, or a hotel room.
- Comprehensive Aftercare: A good clinic will provide clear aftercare instructions and be available for any follow-up concerns.
- “If in doubt, don’t!” Your instincts are important. If anything feels off, walk away.
Your face and your health are priceless. Don’t compromise them for a bargain. Invest in your safety and well-being by choosing a qualified, reputable clinic like ours! We are here to answer all your questions and ensure you receive the safest, most effective, and highest quality care.
The question shouldn’t be “why are you so expensive” …. It should be “why are they so cheap”?
