In recent years, numerous celebrities have been frequently exposed for using Botox and other cosmetic products, achieving a "reverse aging" effect. However, some businesses have begun illegally imitating these practices, with individuals even selling prescription drugs—Botox—online and providing video tutorials on self-injection. Upon hearing this, professional doctors were left speechless.Dr. Li Jun, Director of the Medical Aesthetics Department at Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital, emphasized that botulinum toxin in cosmetic applications must be administered exclusively by physicians with specialized training and valid medical licenses. Improper use carries severe consequences, potentially even life-threatening.
Botox available online for as low as 50 yuan
It is understood that Botox wrinkle reduction gained global popularity in the 1990s. From a medical clinical perspective, injecting Botox to eliminate wrinkles and reduce masseter muscle size is scientifically safe and remains one of the most widely used procedures today. Currently, Botox is regulated as a medical controlled substance, strictly prohibiting its arbitrary sale on the market. Most Botox products available for purchase are likely counterfeit.
A reporter searched for "botulinum toxin" on several professional shopping websites and found nearly 300 sellers. Among them, the top seller reported monthly sales exceeding 100 vials.
The reporter observed a wide variety of "botulinum toxin" products. Some claimed to be imported from France, the Netherlands, or the United States, while others were domestically produced injections. Most were priced between 100 and 300 yuan, with a few costing around 4,000 yuan. However, the lowest-priced option was available for just 50 yuan.
When posing as a consumer inquiring about usage methods, some sellers directly stated that self-injection was possible. Upon the reporter's admission of "not knowing how," one seller immediately sent a link to an online botulinum toxin injection tutorial priced at 5 yuan. The seller claimed that for an additional 5 yuan, the injection video could be accessed, asserting: "The results are just as good as those from a professional doctor."
Self-injection left a hole in her face
"Without professional administration, not only will you fail to achieve a slimmer face or wrinkle reduction, but you risk muscle stiffness, ectropion, and other complications..." Director Li Jun expressed grave concern.
Several patients left a deep impression on Director Li. They purchased botulinum toxin from unlicensed sources and self-administered injections at these "black clinics."
Not only did they see no results, but one patient ended up with a hole in half her face. Another beauty-seeking woman received injections of "Omeding"—a substance explicitly banned by the state—at an illegal clinic. Originally used for breast augmentation, this product was prohibited due to severe side effects. Shockingly, the black clinic injected it into her face, resulting not in beauty enhancement but disfigurement.
In fact, such tragedies are repeatedly unfolding across multiple hospitals. Journalists found that major cosmetic surgery hospitals have each encountered two to three dozen cases of "disfigurement" resulting from injections at unlicensed medical facilities. Many involved individuals who purchased "botulinum toxin" themselves and had it injected at beauty salons.
Questioning the Source: Counterfeits Dominate
Director Li Jun emphasized that any institution without specialized licensing cannot obtain genuine "botulinum toxin," let alone sell it online. The current non-standard use of botulinum toxin by non-medical institutions and venues directly compromises both treatment efficacy and safety.
So where does all this online "botulinum toxin" come from? Industry insiders suggest most products circulating in the market are counterfeit. During interviews, reporters also discovered that many online sellers fail to provide approval numbers or expiration dates.
One seller secretly whispered to our reporter that various brands of botulinum toxin sold online might be high-quality counterfeit products manufactured by other companies. The cheapest ones can be sourced for as little as 20 yuan, with sellers setting their own retail prices. Some online sellers even advertise "topical" botulinum toxin. Director Li Jun stated, "Currently, within professional circles, I have never heard of such a product."
Expert: Self-injection risks fatality
Surprisingly, many netizens knowingly purchase counterfeit products yet still take the risk of DIY facial slimming.Director Li Jun warns: "Facial slimming injections are administered directly into the face. Consumers often lack anatomical knowledge, leading to inaccurate injection sites or excessive concentration/dosage. If injected into a blood vessel, it could be fatal."
Furthermore, doctors without specialized training in facial slimming injections struggle to master the procedure. Botox requires strict adherence to dilution ratios, injection sites, timing, and intervals between treatments. Only the most authoritative tertiary public hospitals, with experienced medical professionals, can ensure cosmetic safety.
Director Li Jun explained that under China's "Catalog of Graded Management for Medical Aesthetic Procedures," botulinum toxin injections are classified as Level 1 cosmetic surgery procedures. They must be performed by licensed physicians in certified medical aesthetic institutions. However, the reality is that numerous beauty salons, unlicensed clinics, and online sellers have entered the botulinum toxin market, leading to frequent cosmetic accidents that tarnish the industry's reputation.