County officials warn about dangers of counterfeit Botox after woman suffers botulism

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) – The county is warning about the dangers of counterfeit Botox after a San Diego woman developed botulism. Officials say she was able to purchase the product online, then took it to a "Botox party" in Mexico.

"Where it was injected by an unlicensed and untrained person," said Dr. Erik A. Berg, medical consultant for San Diego County.

County health officials say the 43-year-old woman soon after developed a headache, weakness, and blurred vision which is consistent with botulism.

The CDC reports 22 cases of botulism due to counterfeit Botox across 11 states, including two in California. Officials say half of the patients required hospitalization.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Chaffoo says you have to be a licensed physician to purchase legitimate Botox and a licensed professional should always be the one administering it.

"These are elective procedures, not some thing anybody ever has to do, so you really want to do your homework. Be a good consumer and ask a lot of questions," Dr. Chafoo said.

Dr. Chaffoo also adds, "this is not a treatment that you need to be doing in someone’s bathroom. This needs to be done in a medical environment, a sterile environment."

Botox has several medical uses, but has grown in popularity for the ability to temporarily paralyze weaker facial muscles, minimizing signs of wrinkles. When Botox is counterfeit, it's difficult to know what the dose is.

Though botulism is fairly rare, Dr. Berg says these situations are most risky: people that are getting counterfeit or mishandled botox products, intravenous drug users, particularly black tar heroin, and those who ingest home-canned food.

If you experience any symptoms of botulism like drooping eyelids, blurred vision, or slurred speech, doctors say to seek emergency care especially if you start to have difficulty breathing.