For beauty enthusiasts, achieving a slimmer, more refined face is a top concern. In cosmetic procedures, the fastest and most convenient method is undoubtedly injectable facial slimming treatments. However, precisely because these injections are so accessible, many beauty seekers lower their guard, leading to frequent cases of poisoning from these treatments. Recently, a woman suffered poisoning after spending 1,500 yuan on such injections.
Woman Poisoned After $225 Facial Slimming Injection, Unable to Walk Properly
Xiao Rong, a 28-year-old woman from Benxi, received a facial slimming injection at a nail salon for 1,500 yuan a few days ago. Unexpectedly, within days, she developed symptoms including inability to open her eyes, generalized weakness, difficulty breathing, and choking while eating or drinking.
Her family rushed her to a hospital in Shenyang, where she was barely able to walk.
Diagnosed with botulinum toxin poisoning, Xiaorong faced the risk of worsening symptoms without prompt treatment—including full-body muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, and potentially fatal complications.
Doctors indicated that Xiao Rong's severe symptoms were likely caused by illegal, smuggled botulinum toxin injections used at the nail salon. After nearly a week of treatment, her condition has stabilized but remains critical. If muscle weakness affects her breathing, she may require a ventilator or intensive care unit admission at any moment.
What should you do if you experience botulinum toxin poisoning?
The primary ingredient in facial slimming injections is botulinum toxin, currently recognized as the most potent known neurotoxin. Among its eight antigenic types, the A-type used in medical aesthetics possesses the strongest toxicity. Professor Li Tianshi from Peking University Shenzhen Hospital's Plastic Surgery Department previously emphasized that during botulinum toxin injections for cosmetic purposes, even slight inaccuracies in dosage control can lead to poisoning in patients.
According to Professor Li, botulinum toxin can trigger a series of severe symptoms: "After affecting the motor system, it causes ptosis, double vision, dysarthria, dysphagia, and limb weakness. If autonomic dysfunction occurs, patients may experience dry mouth, gastrointestinal dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension, and hypothermia."
Regarding treatment for botulinum toxin poisoning, Professor Li Tian Shi asserts that antitoxins represent the most effective approach, with subsequent symptomatic supportive care also being critical. "This requires selecting antitoxins specific to the identified serotype following toxin identification."Patients with botulinum toxin poisoning undergo a relatively lengthy and gradual recovery process, making rehabilitation intervention particularly important during this phase. Paralysis caused by botulinum toxin poisoning may take up to seven months to resolve, while cranial nerve damage and mild autonomic dysfunction can persist for up to a year. Throughout this period, patients experience fatigue and dizziness more easily than healthy individuals and are also prone to breathing difficulties."
Given the significant suffering caused by botulinum toxin poisoning, Professor Li Tianshi emphasizes that prevention remains superior to treatment. In the field of medical aesthetics, selecting qualified and experienced medical institutions is the most effective way for patients to prevent botulinum toxin poisoning.