I nearly died after being injected with fake Botox… doctors sent me home after mistaking key side effect
Around an hour earlier she had been helped into bed at
Sunderland
Royal Hospital after collapsing in a toilet.
Advertisement
6
Mum Kaylie Marie Bailey tells of her nightmare after terrifying reaction to a beauty jab - and the tell-tale signs you should look out for
Credit: Glen Minikin
6
Kaylie Marie ended up fighting for her life at Sunderland Royal Hospital's A&E
Credit: Family Handout
Unknown to Kaylie she had then stopped breathing and staff had rushed to her aid.
Earlier that night, the mum-of-three had lost consciousness at home after suffering a terrifying reaction to what she incorrectly believed to be an authentic Botox treatment that she had treated herself to a couple of weeks earlier.
She says of waking up in hospital: 'I must have blacked out, because when I came round there were about 20 people around me and I could hear them yelling instructions to each other. There was also a tube down my throat.'
Advertisement
Kaylie Marie was later told a resuscitator had been used to restart her breathing.
The 36-year-old was one of 28 people in County
Durham
injected with a batch of fake Botox that appears to have been contaminated with the lethal
The product used was Toxpia, an unlicensed South Korean anti-wrinkle solution illegal to sell or supply in the UK.
It was responsible for Britain's biggest botulism outbreak in 100 years and Kaylie Marie's case was among the most serious.
Her life was saved by medics who resuscitated her using a manual respirator to push oxygen into her lungs.
Advertisement
'Law change'
Public
health
officials are investigating the source of the outbreak but so far Durham police have not launched an inquiry.
At her home in Peterlee, a month after being injected, Kaylie Marie wears an eye patch to correct double vision, and supports her weak right arm, which she can barely lift, on her knee.
Tweakment Trials - Botox
'It's disgraceful that anyone can become a Botox specialist and start injecting people without any screening and with no qualifications,' she says tearfully.
'The
law
needs to change to regulate the aesthetics industry, because there are people out there who are playing with people's lives.'
Kaylie Marie's world was turned upside down when, on May 30, she contacted a local beautician on
Messenger, asking for a
Advertisement
It was a decision that very nearly robbed her one-month-old son Albie and her two other children, Olly, 12, and
Leo
, eight, of their mum, and it has left Kaylie Marie's
future
health under a cloud of uncertainty.
That day, she went for her Botox appointment at a
hair
salon in Blackhall Rocks, County Durham. She had had Botox four times before, but not for about 18 months.
The salon owner was
renting
out a room at the back to a beautician who was visiting the area for a two-day stint. Kaylie Marie says: 'After having my little boy I wanted to give myself a makeover and feel
nice
again. I have always hated the frown line that creeps back on my forehead.
'I was slightly late for my appointment and felt as though the beautician was in a rush.
'I asked for three spots to be injected — the sides of my eyes, my forehead and between my eyes.
Advertisement
'But as soon as she injected me, it stung and my eyes started watering. The beautician joked about it and said, 'I seem to be making everyone's eyes water today'.
'I couldn't shake it off'
'As I was about to pay my usual £150, she said 'that will be £75'. I was surprised it was so cheap and now I'm wondering whether she was charging less because she had paid less for the chemical.'
'I thought nothing of the stinging and was back in my dad's car within ten minutes.'
Over the weekend, Kaylie Marie began to feel dizzy and ill and her left eye wasn't opening fully.
She told herself it just needed to settle, but on the Monday, while driving Olly to a school appointment, she realised something was wrong.
Advertisement
6
Kaylie Marie, pictured before being injected with fake Botox, was later told a resuscitator had been used to restart her breathing.
Credit: Glen Minikin
6
Kaylie Marie was later told a resuscitator had been used to restart her breathing
Credit: Glen Minikin
'There was a bus in front of me which suddenly split into two,
driving
side by side,' she says.
'I blinked to correct my vision, but nothing happened. I was stuck with terrible double vision and couldn't shake it off.'
With three young children to look after, she felt she had no choice but to carry on, despite her partner Craig Perry, 38, expressing concern.
Advertisement
It was her sister Danielle, 39, who told her to seek medical help when she saw her eye drooping.
It was Friday, June 6 and after securing a GP appointment, she was taken to A&E. Kaylie Marie says: 'My vision was so bad it looked like everyone in the waiting room was sitting with their twin.
'I was given morphine and a CT scan, but was sent home when a consultant diagnosed ptosis, which just means a drooping eyelid.
I started to lose consciousness, to think about the children. I'm dying, I thought.
'Instinctively I knew they had got it wrong, but what could I do?'
She soldiered on for another week, unaware the botulism bacterium were damaging her central nervous system.
Advertisement
It was a fortnight after the fake Botox injections that a correct diagnosis was finally made and she was sent to hospital by her GP.
Kaylie Marie says: 'In the week since I'd last been in the hospital,
news
of the botulism outbreak had started to spread. The hospital had treated other women. I was told there was an anti-toxin, but it was in such short supply and so expensive it was only being given to the most urgent cases, and I didn't qualify.'
As Friday, June 13 was drawing to a close, Kaylie Marie's breathing was becoming shallower and shallower, until it stopped completely.
She says: 'I'd rushed to the loo where I was sick and collapsed.
What to look out for...
GOVERNMENT-approved organisation Save Face, which campaigns for safer cosmetic procedures, has this advice:
Always visit a trained healthcare practitioner such as a doctor, nurse, dentist or a prescribing pharmacist.
Avoid cheap treatments and time-limited offers – it may indicate that corners are being cut.
Know the full name, credentials and contact details of the person who is treating you.
Do not visit a practitioner who only operates on social media and who will not disclose this information.
Arrange a consultation and don't be afraid to ask questions. Discuss your concerns and desired outcomes.
Ask what products they use and what aftercare will be available.
Ask to see the unopened box of product/medicine that is to be used and make a note of the brand and the LOT number (take a photo) for future reference.
Don't be afraid to walk away if you do not feel comfortable.
'I was helped back into bed, but I could feel myself getting weaker and breathing was becoming a struggle. I started to lose consciousness and began to think about Craig and the children. 'I'm dying,' I thought.'
Advertisement
Kaylie Marie was later moved to intensive care, where she was eventually given the anti-toxin. She remained in hospital for three more days before being discharged.
'Make people think'
Amanda Healy, County Durham Director of Public Health, said: 'We are working closely with colleagues at
United Kingdom
Health Security Agency to investigate the cause of these adverse reactions.
'I would encourage anyone who has recently undertaken an aesthetic procedure and is experiencing any of the symptoms listed to contact NHS 111 or, if it feels life-threatening, go to A&E.'
A spokesperson for Sunderland Royal Hospital said: 'When the patient was discharged following her first attendance, she was advised to visit her GP if her condition worsened. It was explained her symptoms were likely to be related to botox, which can resolve without specific treatment.
'As soon as there were regional communications about this issue, actions were taken quickly and staff were made aware. Advice was sought when she was admitted later in June.'
Advertisement
Kaylie Marie says: 'I took legal advice as soon as I was well enough.
'It was soon found that the beautician doesn't have insurance as she claimed so I'm unlikely to get meaningful compensation.
'She apologised and said there was a problem with the product on a
nationwide
level.'
Kaylie Marie is yet to discover what lasting damage the botulism may have done.
She says: 'I'm stuck in the house with double vision, weakness in my arms and doctors are unable to say when or if I'll fully recover.
Advertisement
'These injections have become part of everyday life, but I hope that this will make people think very carefully about who they go to — or whether to go at all.'
6
The mum-of-three had lost consciousness at home after suffering a terrifying reaction to a Botox treatment two weeks earlier
Credit: Glen Minikin
6
Kaylie Marie was later moved to intensive care, where she was eventually given the anti-toxin
Credit: Glen Minikin
A spokesperson for Sunderland Royal Hospital said: "When the patient was discharged following her first attendance, she was advised to visit her GP if her condition worsened, or did not improve after a few weeks, for a referral to an eye specialist.
"It was explained her symptoms were likely to be related to botox, which can resolve without requiring specific treatment over time.
Advertisement
"Advice was sought when she was admitted later in June and treated in line with guidance.
"Botulinum toxicity is a very rare condition. It is not seen by the majority of doctors during their careers.
"As soon as there were regional communications about this issue, actions were taken quickly and staff were made aware in case patients presented.
"Clear ways to manage any patients who needed treatment were set out. This included seeking specialist advice on the antitoxin used as a treatment."
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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I nearly died after being injected with fake Botox… doctors sent me home after mistaking key side effect
GAZING up at all the medics around her bed, Kaylie Marie Bailey realised with horror that they were fighting to save her life. Around an hour earlier she had been helped into bed at Sunderland Royal Hospital after collapsing in a toilet. Advertisement 6 Mum Kaylie Marie Bailey tells of her nightmare after terrifying reaction to a beauty jab - and the tell-tale signs you should look out for Credit: Glen Minikin 6 Kaylie Marie ended up fighting for her life at Sunderland Royal Hospital's A&E Credit: Family Handout Unknown to Kaylie she had then stopped breathing and staff had rushed to her aid. Earlier that night, the mum-of-three had lost consciousness at home after suffering a terrifying reaction to what she incorrectly believed to be an authentic Botox treatment that she had treated herself to a couple of weeks earlier. She says of waking up in hospital: 'I must have blacked out, because when I came round there were about 20 people around me and I could hear them yelling instructions to each other. There was also a tube down my throat.' Advertisement Kaylie Marie was later told a resuscitator had been used to restart her breathing. The 36-year-old was one of 28 people in County Durham injected with a batch of fake Botox that appears to have been contaminated with the lethal The product used was Toxpia, an unlicensed South Korean anti-wrinkle solution illegal to sell or supply in the UK. It was responsible for Britain's biggest botulism outbreak in 100 years and Kaylie Marie's case was among the most serious. Her life was saved by medics who resuscitated her using a manual respirator to push oxygen into her lungs. Advertisement 'Law change' Public health officials are investigating the source of the outbreak but so far Durham police have not launched an inquiry. At her home in Peterlee, a month after being injected, Kaylie Marie wears an eye patch to correct double vision, and supports her weak right arm, which she can barely lift, on her knee. Tweakment Trials - Botox 'It's disgraceful that anyone can become a Botox specialist and start injecting people without any screening and with no qualifications,' she says tearfully. 'The law needs to change to regulate the aesthetics industry, because there are people out there who are playing with people's lives.' Kaylie Marie's world was turned upside down when, on May 30, she contacted a local beautician on Facebook Messenger, asking for a Advertisement It was a decision that very nearly robbed her one-month-old son Albie and her two other children, Olly, 12, and Leo , eight, of their mum, and it has left Kaylie Marie's future health under a cloud of uncertainty. That day, she went for her Botox appointment at a hair salon in Blackhall Rocks, County Durham. She had had Botox four times before, but not for about 18 months. The salon owner was renting out a room at the back to a beautician who was visiting the area for a two-day stint. Kaylie Marie says: 'After having my little boy I wanted to give myself a makeover and feel nice again. I have always hated the frown line that creeps back on my forehead. 'I was slightly late for my appointment and felt as though the beautician was in a rush. 'I asked for three spots to be injected — the sides of my eyes, my forehead and between my eyes. Advertisement 'But as soon as she injected me, it stung and my eyes started watering. The beautician joked about it and said, 'I seem to be making everyone's eyes water today'. 'I couldn't shake it off' 'As I was about to pay my usual £150, she said 'that will be £75'. I was surprised it was so cheap and now I'm wondering whether she was charging less because she had paid less for the chemical.' 'I thought nothing of the stinging and was back in my dad's car within ten minutes.' Over the weekend, Kaylie Marie began to feel dizzy and ill and her left eye wasn't opening fully. She told herself it just needed to settle, but on the Monday, while driving Olly to a school appointment, she realised something was wrong. Advertisement 6 Kaylie Marie, pictured before being injected with fake Botox, was later told a resuscitator had been used to restart her breathing. Credit: Glen Minikin 6 Kaylie Marie was later told a resuscitator had been used to restart her breathing Credit: Glen Minikin 'There was a bus in front of me which suddenly split into two, driving side by side,' she says. 'I blinked to correct my vision, but nothing happened. I was stuck with terrible double vision and couldn't shake it off.' With three young children to look after, she felt she had no choice but to carry on, despite her partner Craig Perry, 38, expressing concern. Advertisement It was her sister Danielle, 39, who told her to seek medical help when she saw her eye drooping. It was Friday, June 6 and after securing a GP appointment, she was taken to A&E. Kaylie Marie says: 'My vision was so bad it looked like everyone in the waiting room was sitting with their twin. 'I was given morphine and a CT scan, but was sent home when a consultant diagnosed ptosis, which just means a drooping eyelid. I started to lose consciousness, to think about the children. I'm dying, I thought. 'Instinctively I knew they had got it wrong, but what could I do?' She soldiered on for another week, unaware the botulism bacterium were damaging her central nervous system. Advertisement It was a fortnight after the fake Botox injections that a correct diagnosis was finally made and she was sent to hospital by her GP. Kaylie Marie says: 'In the week since I'd last been in the hospital, news of the botulism outbreak had started to spread. The hospital had treated other women. I was told there was an anti-toxin, but it was in such short supply and so expensive it was only being given to the most urgent cases, and I didn't qualify.' As Friday, June 13 was drawing to a close, Kaylie Marie's breathing was becoming shallower and shallower, until it stopped completely. She says: 'I'd rushed to the loo where I was sick and collapsed. What to look out for... GOVERNMENT-approved organisation Save Face, which campaigns for safer cosmetic procedures, has this advice: Always visit a trained healthcare practitioner such as a doctor, nurse, dentist or a prescribing pharmacist. Avoid cheap treatments and time-limited offers – it may indicate that corners are being cut. Know the full name, credentials and contact details of the person who is treating you. Do not visit a practitioner who only operates on social media and who will not disclose this information. Arrange a consultation and don't be afraid to ask questions. Discuss your concerns and desired outcomes. Ask what products they use and what aftercare will be available. Ask to see the unopened box of product/medicine that is to be used and make a note of the brand and the LOT number (take a photo) for future reference. Don't be afraid to walk away if you do not feel comfortable. 'I was helped back into bed, but I could feel myself getting weaker and breathing was becoming a struggle. I started to lose consciousness and began to think about Craig and the children. 'I'm dying,' I thought.' Advertisement Kaylie Marie was later moved to intensive care, where she was eventually given the anti-toxin. She remained in hospital for three more days before being discharged. 'Make people think' Amanda Healy, County Durham Director of Public Health, said: 'We are working closely with colleagues at United Kingdom Health Security Agency to investigate the cause of these adverse reactions. 'I would encourage anyone who has recently undertaken an aesthetic procedure and is experiencing any of the symptoms listed to contact NHS 111 or, if it feels life-threatening, go to A&E.' A spokesperson for Sunderland Royal Hospital said: 'When the patient was discharged following her first attendance, she was advised to visit her GP if her condition worsened. It was explained her symptoms were likely to be related to botox, which can resolve without specific treatment. 'As soon as there were regional communications about this issue, actions were taken quickly and staff were made aware. Advice was sought when she was admitted later in June.' Advertisement Kaylie Marie says: 'I took legal advice as soon as I was well enough. 'It was soon found that the beautician doesn't have insurance as she claimed so I'm unlikely to get meaningful compensation. 'She apologised and said there was a problem with the product on a nationwide level.' Kaylie Marie is yet to discover what lasting damage the botulism may have done. She says: 'I'm stuck in the house with double vision, weakness in my arms and doctors are unable to say when or if I'll fully recover. Advertisement 'These injections have become part of everyday life, but I hope that this will make people think very carefully about who they go to — or whether to go at all.' 6 The mum-of-three had lost consciousness at home after suffering a terrifying reaction to a Botox treatment two weeks earlier Credit: Glen Minikin 6 Kaylie Marie was later moved to intensive care, where she was eventually given the anti-toxin Credit: Glen Minikin A spokesperson for Sunderland Royal Hospital said: "When the patient was discharged following her first attendance, she was advised to visit her GP if her condition worsened, or did not improve after a few weeks, for a referral to an eye specialist. "It was explained her symptoms were likely to be related to botox, which can resolve without requiring specific treatment over time. Advertisement "Advice was sought when she was admitted later in June and treated in line with guidance. "Botulinum toxicity is a very rare condition. It is not seen by the majority of doctors during their careers. "As soon as there were regional communications about this issue, actions were taken quickly and staff were made aware in case patients presented. "Clear ways to manage any patients who needed treatment were set out. This included seeking specialist advice on the antitoxin used as a treatment."
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Banishing my belly with £550 fat freeze was so painful I nearly collapsed but was worth it after losing 6cm from waist
AS a roll of frozen fat the colour and shape of an extra large hot dog is forcibly massaged back into my stomach area I think, just for a second, that I may actually pass out. My legs kick in the air as aesthetician Sadaf Jaffari massages and tries to defrost the fat cells in my tummy that she has just frozen to an icy four degrees. Advertisement 8 Jane Atkinson tried CoolSculpting, a £550 non-invasive fat-freezing treatment that promises a flatter tummy without surgery Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 Jane Atkinson pictured after ten weeks after the procedure with a flatter stomach Credit: LORNA ROACH 8 Jane pictured before and after the non-surgical, non-invasive fat reduction treatment The aim is that those dead cells will slowly but surely over the following few weeks pass into my bloodstream and be excreted from my body through my lymphatic system. Hey presto, a flat stomach for the first time in over a decade. Advertisement I was having a slimming tweakment called It was the same one that stunning, leggy supermodel Linda Evangelista had – but bits of her body actually ended up FATTER. But after a lot of research, I decided this non-surgical, non-invasive fat reduction treatment really was the one for me. I have always been an 'apple'. My legs and arms are decent, but as I've got older the weight – and fat – has piled on around my middle. Advertisement Although I'm far too old for a bikini, I did fancy the idea of having a flatter and even slightly toned stomach again, so I could wear some figure-hugging outfits. I've had Botox with celebrity favourite Sadaf for many years. She's a woman I trust and is so experienced with this treatment that she has been dubbed the 'CoolSculpting Queen'. Inside the horrifying High St beauty firm butchering patients in dirty rooms with dodgy liposuction, fillers and BBLs At her clinic in London's Chelsea , she explained how the body-contouring and fat-reduction treatment has changed since supermodel Linda had it. Three years ago, one of the most photographed women in the world revealed that she had been left 'permanently deformed' and 'brutally disfigured' from the Advertisement She suffered Linda had 'full-body liposuction' procedures in 2016 and 2017 to try and remove the hardened fat. So you would think I was nuts to even attempt to have this. But Sadaf explained how there was a new newly designed machine which provides better skin contact and more effective cooling. There is still a risk of PAH, but it's minimal. My hour-long session cost £550 and kicked off with a rather embarrassing photo shoot. Advertisement I had to strip to my undies and stand sideways as her assistant snapped pics of my bulging tummy. 8 Jane pictured with aesthetician Sadaf Jaffari during the procedure Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 Half an hour later, she was back to start the 'hideously intense' massage to destroy the fat crystals Credit: Darren Fletcher Instinctively, I wanted to suck it all in, but that would have defeated the whole point. Sadaf then soothingly agreed that I was a great candidate. Which meant, in polite terms, I had plenty of pinchable fat. Advertisement I lay back on a bed in her clinic and she drew around an area of my muffin top before spreading over a heavy gauze with a thick jelly texture. Then she grabbed the CoolSculpting 'head', which was a 30cm long and 10cm wide contraption attached to a large machine by a tube. She laid the head on top of the gauze pad. And that's when the fun really started. The machine began to make sucking and gulping noises as it suctioned my fat up and away into the gadget – and started to freeze it. I sensed an intense cooling sensation for around two minutes, which might not sound very long, but it felt strange. And for the first time I started to wonder what on earth I was actually doing there. 'Just give it a couple of minutes,' Sadaf assured me. 'And then you won't feel a thing.' Advertisement She was right of course, all of a sudden everything went completely numb. If I am honest, it was all quite pleasant. I just lay there, scrolling on my phone. I FaceTimed a friend, did a bit of work and happily daydreamed of my new toned and honed physique. But the relaxed vibes were short-lived. Half an hour later, she was back to start the hideously intense massage. Sadaf is petite – tiny in fact – but she is stronger than she looks and defrosting the crystals is agony. The relaxed vibes were short-lived. Half an hour later, she was back to start the hideously intense massage 'This is the most important bit,' she said. 'This is how you get the best results.' Advertisement But I was warned to be patient. I had to wait several weeks before I started to notice those eagerly anticipated results. And in the meantime I had to be brave and learn to deal with the strangest of sensations. First off, the area felt entirely numb. 8 Leggy supermodel Linda Evangelista had the same procedure – but actually ended up FATTER due to a rare side effect Credit: Getty 8 Jane had to wait several weeks before she started to notice the results Credit: Darren Fletcher Advertisement Because the device freezes fat, the nerves under the skin also get a chilling blast and it takes a while for them to come back to life. It looked bloated and swollen, but if I touched it, flicked it or squeezed it as hard as I could, I felt nothing. Absolutely no sensation at all. Zilch. And I was fine with that. But then, after about ten days, the itching started to creep in. And boy did it itch. Imagine an army of angry ants crawling slowly but surely all over your torso. After speaking to Sadaf, she suggested taking antihistamines. The itching is often a result of the body's inflammatory response to the fat cell damage. Advertisement As I am prone to an allergy or two, I had plenty of tablets at my disposal. After taking them for a couple of days, the itching subsided. On the upside, at least I knew that the weirdness meant it was working. Unlike the CoolSculpting is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment and it can take months for results to show. SMOOTHER STOMACH But now, ten weeks later, I can definitely see some. Advertisement The whole area around my stomach is smoother and less flabby. You can visibly see that there is less fat there. 8 Jane says the whole area around her stomach is smoother and less flabby - and was able to wear a tight dress during a recent holiday Credit: LORNA ROACH I recently went on holiday and could wear a tight dress without having a bulging gut. I even asked The Geordie – my husband, who is a man of few compliments – if it looked any flatter and he agreed it did. Result! And the tape measure even shows results too. Advertisement At a recent health check up I discovered that I've lost 6cm off my waist in the past year. And I know there's zero chance of that being down to sit ups or knocking Sauvignon Blanc on the head! I am planning to have another round of CoolSculpting – when I have saved up for it, because it does cost £550 a go – as there is no limit to the number of treatments you can have. You just need to wait for a couple of months in between them. Obviously the quicker route to achieve fat melting is the surgical one, but the risks and costs are so much higher and CoolSculpting really is something you can have during your lunchtime. So – unless you want to tell the world about it, as I have just done – it can be your own little secret. For more information on CoolSculpting visit
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Public warned to avoid e-cigarettes from two brands after EU health alert
The HSE's National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) is warning the public to stop using e-cigarettes from two differentbrands as they are wrongly labelled as containing no nicotine. The products, for which European Safety Alerts have been issued, were found to contain nicotine at concentrations up to 30 mg/ml, following analysis by the State Laboratory. The products involved are: McKesse MK Bar 700, blueberry, blackcurrant mango and blueberry pear flavours; and Bank Box 18000 Puffs, watermelon ice, strawberry watermelon and blueberry ice flavours. People can return them to the shop where they were bought and retailers have been asked to stop selling them. READ MORE HSE principal environmental health officer Margaret Ruddy said: 'In response to finding non-compliant and unsafe products on the Irish market, the HSE National Environmental Health Service will continue to exercise its full legal powers to protect public health, this includes product seizure, product destruction and prosecutions. 'Retailers should be checking both the products themselves and their suppliers' details before selling them on to consumers.' Retailers who sold or distributed the products have been told to display a recall notice on their premises or on social media.
