Self-administering Innotox, a Botox-like injection not licensed for use in the UK, can lead to eyelid droops, infection and even botulism, experts have warned. The medication, which is a ready-to-use liquid, is being sold illegally online, making it easier for individuals to inject themselves.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced plans to introduce legislation to crack down on England's cosmetic 'wild west', where regulation of treatments such as dermatological filler and Botox is scant. Innotox is not licensed in the UK, meaning its quality and safety have not been assessed.
Aenone Harper-Machin, a consultant plastic surgeon and spokesperson for the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), described the online availability of Innotox as 'frightening and appalling'. She cautioned against DIY jabs, warning that people could give themselves eyelid droops, asymmetries, or even botulism by injecting into a blood vessel.
Products like Botox and Innotox contain type A botulinum toxin, a prescription-only medicine in the UK. However, Innotox can be bought online without a prescription. Health officials have linked 41 recent cases of botulism poisoning in England to unlicensed jabs.
Nora Nugent, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), said the organisation is aware of isolated cases of serious complications from self-injection, including infections, tissue damage, and permanent scarring. Sophie Cooper, managing director of Harley Street Skin Clinic, noted that TikTok content creators have been encouraging viewers to self-inject Innotox, downplaying the dangers.
Tom Albright, CEO of Luvantas, a subsidiary of Innotox producer Medytox, said the company is investigating the unauthorised importation of Innotox to the US, UK, and other countries. He stressed that botulinum toxins should only be administered by qualified healthcare professionals.
