At least one Big Apple resident was among 10 people hospitalized with “severe” illness in the US after injecting Botox bought from unlicensed sources through social media this year, officials said Monday.
The victims, who ended up in hospitals between May and August, were saved with doses of botulism antitoxin after they injected dangerous knock-offs, according to New York health authorities.
Three of the victims required intubation and a ventilator, according to a health advisory to medical providers published Monday from the New York City and state health departments.
No deaths were reported in connection with the injections, some of which were peddled on apps such as TikTok, WhatsApp and international retail websites.
Many of the products sold involved vials of white powder without labels, instructions or warnings.
“Some of the symptomatic individuals reported seeing advertisements for vendors selling botulinum toxin products on social media, including on TikTok,” the Health Departments’ advisory reads.
“None of the people injecting these products reportedly met state requirements for purchasing or administering botulinum toxin products.”
Under state law, Botox is only available from trained, licensed professionals who administer the product.
But the rule hasn’t stopped at-home kits with unregulated ingredients being peddled over the past decade, resulting in growing reports of infection and life-threatening botulism.
“I’m doing my own [injection]. I just ordered my Korean Botox,” a TikTok user wrote in the comments section of a Botox self-injection tutorial.
“Tired of paying ridiculous amount of money when the neurotixin [sic] itself is under 100 [dollars] for a 100 unit bottle.”
Botulism is a bacteria-produced illness caused by its toxin attacking the body’s nerves. Symptoms may include headache, muscle weakness, facial paralysis and difficulty speaking.
Symptoms suffered by the victims mentioned by New York officials began about three days after injection and included shortness of breath and extremity weakness, the advisory said.
The city’s Health Department issued an advisory in April 2024 after botulism-like illnesses were reported in New Yorkers receiving botulinum toxin injections from “unlicensed providers or with unverified products” — but the latest surge marks a turning point in which victims are injecting themselves.
New Yorkers with suspected botulism or botulism-like cases can call the NYC Health Department Provider Access Line at 866-692-3641.
Those outside New York City can call the state Health Department Bureau of Communicable Disease Control at 518-473-4439 during business hours or after-hours at 866-881-2809.
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