Health authorities are investigating cases of people being injected with illegally imported Botox and other cosmetic products by unqualified people in residential premises and hotel rooms.
The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) has received an increased number of complaints about cosmetic procedures being performed by non-medical people, particularly in the Sydney area.
The cosmetic procedures — including double eyelid suturing, nose bridge lifts, protein suture facelifts, the administration of Botox, dermal fillers and Glutathione skin whitening injections — were advertised through social media, in particular mobile and text messaging service WeChat.
According to the HCCC, in one case a woman underwent a double eyelid suture procedure in a residential apartment in the Sydney area.
“The treatment caused bruising and scarring to the patient and damage to her eyelids,” a spokesman for the HCCC said.
“The commission’s investigation has so far determined that the practitioner who carried out the surgery is not registered as a medical practitioner in Australia and was not qualified to conduct the surgery.”
A search at the premises found a number of prescription-only medications illegally imported into Australia, including Botulinum toxin (Botox) and hyaluronic acid injection preparations (dermal fillers).
The medications used by the non-registered practitioners are imported and not on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
The import and supply of medication not on the register is unlawful and potentially dangerous, authorities said.
The HCCC has urged people seeking cosmetic surgical and medical procedures to be vigilant in their research prior to undergoing any surgery.
Illegal cosmetic surgery investigation in Victoria
National health authority the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has also been investigating illegal cosmetic surgery in Victoria.
In June, the authorities searched a residential apartment at Docklands in Melbourne, where an unregistered person was believed to be providing cosmetic medical procedures.
Chief executive Martin Fletcher encouraged anyone with more information about this matter to contact AHPRA.
Mr Fletcher also called for anyone with concerns about their health following a procedure undertaken by an unregistered person to go to their GP or nearest hospital for treatment.
“Anyone receiving medical treatment from an unregistered person is a cause for concern and we want to hear from them,” he said.
“If you see someone who is not registered, you just don’t know what you’re getting.
“When you see a registered practitioner you know you are receiving care from someone who is appropriately trained and held to account to national standards.”
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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