Fake botox is making people sick — here’s how you can stay safe

Step away from the needles. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may soon issue an alert for doctors regarding “botulism-like illnesses” which have already landed at least four people in the hospital, according to NBC News.  

People in multiple states across the country — including Illinois, Colorado, Kentucky, Washington and Tennessee — have reportedly fallen ill after receiving injections of counterfeit Botox. 

Two individuals in each Illinois and Tennessee have been hospitalized; and on Thursday, four more cases of illnesses were confirmed in Kentucky, reported NBC News. The events have led to a “multi-state outbreak investigation,” the CDC added.

Despite the expected warning from the CDC, there are actually plenty of ways consumers can keep themselves safe. If you’re one of the millions of people who regularly get Botox to keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay, here’s what you need to know. 

Go to a pro.

Not to state the obvious here, but you should only see a professional for this type of treatment. 

“There’s a reason that botulinum toxin injections are so popular,” Dr. Elizabeth Hale, clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone in New York City, told The Post. “It’s because it is typically a very safe and effective treatment with reproducible results when it’s performed in the hands of a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.” 

While Hale acknowledged that the treatments can be expensive, you’re rolling the dice with your own health if you’re not going to a certified pro. 

Make sure the Botox is coming from a reliable source.

If you’re seeing a doctor, you’re going to get the right stuff. All of the cases of counterfeit or fake Botox that have been reported thus far have come from outside a doctor’s office. In recent years, it’s become increasingly popular to visit so-called “medi spas” — short for medical spas — or even Botox parties, where groups will get together at someone’s house and a clinician will provide pokes for a discounted price. 

“A lot of my patients will come in for their lasers or their fillers or their skin checks. But they’ll say, ‘Hope you don’t mind, I’m getting Botox at a Botox party in my town.’ And I’m like, what?!” Hale exclaimed. “People are often trying to save a buck. And it’s not the best idea unless you know exactly who is injecting you and what they’re injecting.”

Some of the most common brands of the cosmetic form of botulinum toxin are Botox, Daxxify, Xeomin and Dysport, Hale explained. If you’re not getting one of those — or if you don’t know what you’re getting — you could be putting yourself at risk. 

Know the signs that something has gone wrong.

When it’s used properly, Botox is safe and reliable, but yes, it’s also called a “miracle poison” because it’s made from one of the most poisonous biological substances known, according to the National Institutes of Health. After all, the cosmetic wonder-drug works by paralyzing tiny muscles, so that you don’t have creases or wrinkles anymore.

Although the CDC is investigating reports of fake Botox, Hale said she’s also concerned about the amount that people are getting injected and where they’re getting the injections. 

“Those of us who inject [Botox] everyday are familiar with the fine muscles of the face, and know how they interact with each other and know how much one should give,” Hale said. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, the injections may not be very precise, and if you give too much, an individual could have difficulty breathing or an impairment swallowing, Hale said. 

Hale emphasized that if you’re injecting Botox correctly, these types of symptoms shouldn’t appear. In fact, when done correctly, you shouldn’t require any downtime. 

“If you’re starting to get redness or tenderness or any sign of infection at the injection spot, that’s probably a sign that it was not done with the correct materials or was not the correct procedure,” Hale cautioned. 

Any signs of inflammation, difficulty breathing, swallowing or blurred or double vision mean you should seek medical care immediately.