logo
People self-injecting with 'Korean Botox' as experts make grave warning

People self-injecting with 'Korean Botox' as experts make grave warning

Daily Mirror14-07-2025
There has been an alarming rise in people opting to self-inject 'Korean Botox' at home as a way to cut the cost of the popular beauty treatment - but it comes with some serious risks to health
The rise in beauty fans self-injecting themselves with 'Korean Botox' is on the rise. People are injecting themselves at home with Innotox, a South Korean version of Botox which is marketed as a cheaper and longer-lasting alternative.
For just £50, people are able to get Innotox delivered straight to their door, and the black market anti-wrinkle solution is being illegally sold through social media and websites. There are six prescription-only Botox brands that are legal for cosmetic use in the UK. Councils across the country - including Manchester, Wolverhampton and Nottinghamshire - are warning against products such as an Innotox, manufactured in South Korea by Medytox, as none of these products are authorised for use in the UK.

Innotox is fast gaining popularity among many DIYers, who are lured in by the convenience of doing it at home, as well as being more cost-effective and having a "simpler" injection process. But medical experts are growing increasingly alarmed at the surge, warning that what might seem like a harmless wrinkle fix could result in long-term facial paralysis - or something even worse.

Fuelled by the rise in K-Beauty, with beauty buffs jumping on the Korean beauty bandwagon, it's revealed a troubling trend as more and more people are opting for the illegal distribution of unapproved botulinum toxin products, raising alarms about public health and consumer safety.
In 2019, Marcelle King, 62, was hospitalised, put on a drip and given steroids after being given fake Botox by a man pretending to be a doctor. She suffered a huge anaphylactic shock in reaction to the substance, which tests showed was unrefined beef gelatine imported from China.

"He started these injections... each one felt like a red hot cigarette," Marcelle told LBC. "My [face] was swelling up like Frankenstein's Monster and my eyes started blistering up. I was really wheezing and struggling to breathe."
Content creators on TikTok and YouTube have been sharing their results from self-injecting the Innotox, which has been encouraging viewers to jump on the hype. Raising serious red flags among the health community, especially given the unregulated nature of these purchases and the lack of professional oversight, Managing Director of the Harley Street Skin Clinic, Sophie Cooper, has shared insights into the dangers of purchasing Innotox online and self-injecting.
For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.

Innotox is a Korean beauty treatment used as an alternative to Botox that contains the same ingredient botulinum toxin type A. Cooper explains: "It works similar to Botox by relaxing facial muscles which softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While Innotox is approved in some countries, it is not approved or authorised for use in the UK or US and people have been urged not to follow the trend."
"While many beauty and skincare-related TikTok trends can be fun and harmless, this one differs as it's leading to people self-injecting at home, something I would absolutely advise against," she said.

YouTuber SpaandTell took to her channel to show her followers how she DIY's her own anti-wrinkle injections with Innotox in a lengthy video - and her how-to video, among many other creators posting similar content is further sparking concern from experts. In reality, self-injecting an alternative comes with many dangers.

These "how-to" videos appearing online aren't in-depth enough, and the expert said it takes years to learn to inject correctly, and following these videos poses a serious risk. For example, injecting too deep in the wrong places can affect your breathing or cause muscle paralysis.
This means if something goes wrong while doing it at home, people might not have the knowledge to treat it appropriately or recognise when it's serious enough to seek medical attention. Sophie further detailed: "Any injectable products should be administered by a trained professional in a sanitised and safe environment so if any issues arise, the experts are there to take care of you.

"Fake or improperly sourced botulinum toxin can cause serious medical complications. Especially if you aren't a medical professional with proper understanding of facial anatomy," she added.
While it may be tempting due to the lower cost, Innotox might end up being very expensive down the road. When you make a mistake, its 'longer-lasting' quality would no longer seem attractive as you'd have to pay for a professional to fix the problem, and this is likely to be a lot more than what you paid.
The expert added: "Without the experts, you're exposing yourself to all kinds of risks. Innotox is not authorised for use in the UK which means that it does not have the same safety standards as Botox or other authorised products," and urged: "I strongly advise against self-injecting yourself with unregulated anti-aging products or following videos on how to do this from either TikTok or anywhere else on the internet. Always come to a professional."
Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Get 'Glass Skin' with Medicube's TikTok-viral set, now 56% off for a limited time - 'Made such a difference in my skin!'
Get 'Glass Skin' with Medicube's TikTok-viral set, now 56% off for a limited time - 'Made such a difference in my skin!'

Daily Mail​

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Get 'Glass Skin' with Medicube's TikTok-viral set, now 56% off for a limited time - 'Made such a difference in my skin!'

Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more TikTok is known for making beauty and skincare products viral and there's one brand that's on everyone's feed — Medicube. Right now, you can get the viral brand's Clear and Glow on a Budget set for just $53 — a massive 56 percent off from its original price of $120. Medicube Clear and Glow on a Budget The set includes Glutathione Glowing Milk Toner, Vitamin C Toner Pads, Vitamin C Capsule Cream, and Kojic Acid Turmeric Gel Mask. They're designed to hydrate, moisturize, and improve your skin's tone and elasticity. Shop it now for a massive 56 percent off. £0.00 Shop The set includes Glutathione Glowing Milk Toner, Vitamin C Toner Pads, Vitamin C Capsule Cream, and Kojic Acid Turmeric Gel Mask. Each is designed to brighten and deliver glowing skin — perfect for summer. The Glutathione Glow Milk Toner, for example, is great for all skin types and is designed to deliver Korean "glass skin." It can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and improve your skin's elasticity with use. The Vitamin C Toner Pads, on the other hand, are perfect for your morning routine and can be used before you apply your makeup. It helps reduce pigmentation and dark spots, and hydrates skin too. Plus, it's great for acne-prone skin, and is surprisingly sensitive and non-irritating, making this a great fit for most. There is also the Vitamin C Capsule Cream, which the brand went viral over. This golden boba cream comes in capsule form and is the perfect blend of moisturizing gel and Vitamin C cream. It leaves skin brightened and radiant with daily use, and moisturizes your skin. Finally, you have the Kojic Acid Turmeric Gel Mask, designed to give you that glass skin feeling. It's an overnight mask and after a few hours, you'll see the mask go transparent — showing you that it's being absorbed into the skin. It truly is a top product that leaves your skin feeling radiant and hydrated. All in all, this skincare set is meant to hydrate, moisturize, and leave your skin glowing and radiant. Each one of these products is a bestseller on Medicube's website, and this heavily discounted set lets you try them out for a great price. Shoppers on TikTok love it too, giving it a 4.7-star rating. "I absolutely love this product, very hydrating and I have an awesome glow days after my last use! Will definitely be repurchasing this one!" says one customer. "I don't remember the last time my face felt this hydrated! I took a chance, & so happy that I did. Everything came sealed. The products smell fresh and clean. I can't wait to see my results after a few weeks," says another. "I absolutely love it!! It has made such a difference in my skin!! It looks hydrated, dark spots are lighter and my face is softer! I'm getting one for my mom and daughter! They are going to love it!! My face looks more youthful!!" adds a third. Shop the Medicube Clear and Glow on a Budget set now for 56 percent off, and get your orders in before this top-rated set sells out.

NHS surgeon recommends this simple three-ingredient recipe for supporting gut health and strengthening muscles
NHS surgeon recommends this simple three-ingredient recipe for supporting gut health and strengthening muscles

The Independent

time11 hours ago

  • The Independent

NHS surgeon recommends this simple three-ingredient recipe for supporting gut health and strengthening muscles

It's hard to make healthy choices nowadays. Walk into the supermarket and you're faced with an array of sweet treats; unlock your phone and there's a range of entertaining alternatives to exercise. Anything good for us seems usually seems less appealing than the prospect of sugary snacks and doomscrolling. But there are a few experts hoping to change that. NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan is on a mission to make healthier options more accessible for the masses. He uses his medical expertise to simplify the science of wellbeing, then provide low-cost, actionable advice people can benefit from – and his approach is working. Dr Rajan has amassed more than five million Tiktok followers and recently released his first book, This Book May Save Your Life, which contains a collection of 'everyday health hacks to worry less and live better'. He has a theory as to why his videos and the concept for this book are so popular. 'Healthcare systems in most countries have flaws,' Dr Rajan tells The Independent. 'It's harder to see a healthcare professional in some cases, particularly for chronic diseases. It's also expensive if you are going down the private route. People are realising that prevention is a cheaper, more effective longer-term solution for health than treatment when burdened with disease.' Nutrition and gut health are areas his audience are particularly interested in, Dr Rajan adds, explaining: '[Both are] often easy to action but also poorly understood.' Perhaps as a consequence of this, one of his favourite health hacks is a remarkably simple three-ingredient recipe that can support muscle maintenance and gut health. This is how to make it. How to make Dr Karan Rajan's three-ingredient gut health snack Ingredients: Raspberries, 80g Chia seeds, one tbsp Kefir yoghurt, 250g 'This is a great combo that's high in fibre, protein and the three Ps; prebiotics, probiotics and polyphenols,' says Dr Rajan. To make it, start by microwaving 80g of frozen raspberries for 30 seconds, then mashing them to your 'desired level of chunkiness'. 'A dark red colour tells you they're a rich source of the antioxidant anthocyanin,' Dr Rajan adds in the video above. 'This supports beneficial microbes in your gut, and this [amount of raspberries] also contains 5g of fibre.' Next, stir in one tablespoon of chia seeds until you achieve a consistency you're happy with. 'Just one tablespoon of chia seeds is enough to thicken the mixture to a jam-like consistency,' Dr Rajan continues. 'It also has five grams of fibre and mucilage your gut bacteria can ferment to nourish your colon.' At this point, you can add an optional dollop of honey for extra sweetness. Then the mixture is ready to use as a jam, or a topping for yoghurt – kefir yoghurt is preferred for bonus gut health perks–to enjoy an added protein hit. Why fibre should be at the forefront of your food plans We all know that protein has played a starring role in the nutrition world for the past few years, and for good reason. This macronutrient fills a wide variety of vital functions, including building and repairing bodily tissues such as muscle. But Dr Rajan says fibre should also be a key consideration in the make-up of your plate. In fact, he goes so far as to say eating more fibre is the health hack that offers the greatest return on investment for most people. 'Both protein and fibre are essential,' he says. 'There are plenty of foods and meal combos where you can get both, but if I had to over-index on one, it would be fibre. 'I'd say the average person probably consumes enough protein and nowhere near enough fiber,' Dr Rajan continues. The recommended daily allowance for dietary fibre is 30g for adults, but most people currently manage less than 20g, seeing them miss out on plenty of health benefits. 'When it comes to human physiology, there [aren't many processes] fibre isn't involved in, either directly or indirectly. Its benefits include regulating hormones, metabolism, appetite, the gut microbiome, mood, bowels and more.'

Peterborough City Council warns people after botulism cases
Peterborough City Council warns people after botulism cases

BBC News

time11 hours ago

  • BBC News

Peterborough City Council warns people after botulism cases

People have been warned of botulism symptoms following adverse reactions to beauty procedures, a council said. Peterborough City Council has launched an investigation after receiving reports of reactions believed to be linked to private cosmetic UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS have been working with the council to prohibit practitioners linked to cases from carrying out procedures until the investigation was Raj Lakshman, the director of public health for the council, said: "The impact on people when receiving cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin can be very severe and at worst life-threatening." The authority said the cases were not linked to any beauty or cosmetic salons in the city, but were linked to private practitioners working in their own or client's investigation was ongoing, but the council added that the evidence had suggested it was due to the use of unlicensed Botox-like products. Breathing difficulties Dr Lakshman said: "We understand that people want to have aesthetic procedures such as Botox injections."I urge those doing so to take steps to ensure the service they receive will not risk their health and make them unwell."Dr James McGowan, a consultant in health protection at UKHSA, added: "Botulism related to aesthetic procedures is rare but we are seeing cases, and they have been serious."Symptoms can take up to four weeks to develop - if you have had a recent botulinum toxin (Botox-like) treatment and are having difficulty swallowing or breathing, contact NHS 111 for further advice and seek treatment."Adverse reactions included difficulty swallowing, blurred or double vision, slurred speech and breathing difficulty requiring respiratory support. The UKHSA recommends the following precautions when choosing a cosmetic procedure:Make sure a practitioner is qualified, is wearing appropriate protective equipment and washes their hands. Practitioners should be happy to discuss their qualificationsThose seeking a procedure should be offered a consultation beforehand that covers checks for medical conditionsA consent form outlining the risks should be discussed and signed. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store