Botox nightmare is growing in Antalya! New patients rushed to the hospital: symptoms started after 3 days

After 16 people who became ill after botox applications in Antalya in the last 3 months were treated at AÜ Hospital, there were new applications with similar symptoms. B.J., who had complaints of drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness and shortness of breath, claimed that he had the botox procedure done at the home of a doctor he had met before.

B.J., who applied to different hospitals due to his complaints that started 3 days after the application, said that when he saw patients with the same symptoms in the news, he came to AU Hospital and was treated.

Stating that he had the botox procedure done at the home of a doctor he met in the clinic group where he worked before, B.J. said, "I met a doctor at the place where I worked before. He came from Istanbul and started working in Antalya about 2 months ago. First of all, I had a few sessions of hair mesotherapy. The doctor said that we could do the procedures at home. I had both hair mesotherapy and botox. 3 days after the procedure, my eyelids started to droop, hoarseness and difficulty in swallowing began."

B.J. said, "I saw on the news that there were other women who had the same problems as me. So I went to the emergency room and my treatment was started. I asked the doctor who performed the procedure. He told me that they had made an agreement with a new product company. I think the products used are fake. I want the Ministry of Health to investigate these products."

Neurology Specialist Prof. from AU Hospital. Dr. Babür Dora said, "Botulinum toxin is very widely used. We also use it a lot in neurology. We see these poisonings mostly in people who have cosmetic procedures. Generally, this is related to the person who performs the application and the brand of botulinum toxin used. There are two botulinum toxins licensed by the Ministry of Health in Türkiye. Even a doctor cannot buy botulinum toxin when they go to the pharmacy and want to buy it. For this reason, botulinum used in under-the-counter applications." "Most of their toxins are fake," he said.

Stating that botulinum toxin is the most powerful poison in the world, Prof. Dr. Babür Dora said, "The doctor can apply more units than he normally wants to apply. In this case, botulinum toxin poisoning occurs. Botulinum toxin applications must be done primarily by physicians. Neurologists, plastic surgeons and dermatologists who have received training can apply it. It is also used in other medical branches such as urology and physical therapy. Physical therapists can apply it for muscle contraction. There are beauty centers everywhere and we see botulinum toxin applications like cheese and bread in these places. This "Legal regulation is needed to prevent such poisoning cases," he said.

Pointing out that the number of cases is increasing, Neurology Specialist Prof. from AU Hospital. Dr. Ebru Apaydın Doğan said, "We also see new cases coming to the emergency room. One of them was a patient in a critical condition and we had to admit him. Our patient had difficulty swallowing and speaking. In fact, this is not a simple beauty product or an ordinary cream. It is a neurotoxin administered under the skin, negatively affecting the neuromuscular junction, disrupting the transmission and paralyzing the muscles. This situation has become a public health problem. We learned that there are similar cases in other hospitals. Such applications are only performed by specialists. "It needs to be done with products of known origin and in a controlled manner," he said.

Stating that first aid is given in emergency services, Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Aslıhan Yürüktümen Ünal said, "Patients who apply come with difficulty in swallowing and shortness of breath. There may be drooping of one eyelid. We are not very afraid of muscle weakness in areas close to unilateral application. This is already the expected result. But the things we are worried about are the progression of this over time, becoming symmetrical, and affecting the muscles far from the application area."