On a yearly basis, more than 9 million women look for Botox to make themselves look and feel younger. However, these treatments do not come cheap. On average, one treatment can cost $500.

In an attempt to reduce expenses, some people have been ordering Botox products through the internet. But, authorities say that this move can be more harmful than helpful.

One cited case came from an anonymous patient, who purchased industrial strength silicon from an online distributor. After administering the product herself, it resulted in adverse effects.

“If it's injected improperly, it [Botox] can cause skin defects and problems that sometimes can be permanent,” commented Dr. Jeffry Riopelle, a cosmetic surgeon. He says that Botox shoule be sold “as prescription medication and it's only available to physicians.”

But you would be surprised to know that injectable fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, and Botox can be easily purchased online without the necessary prescription.

“Products that aren't pure and are not what they are supposed to be when they're put it sometimes can cause serious infections, and in some patients as we've known in the past, can actually even cause death,” commented Dr. Matthew Mingrone.  

The main problem is that patients do not know the dosage of the product. This has several implications for their health and safety. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly recommends against buying Botox cosmetics from online distributors.

Source: WALB.com