‘Hidden, scary problem’: Counterfeit botox, fillers easy to order into Australia
A leading injectable cosmetic figure is to see the number of “terrible” unlicensed operators that push dangerous procedures.
In 2023, Australia’s legitimate injectable cosmetic industry was worth $ 4.1 billion.
In the meantime, authorities receive approximately 100 complaints about non -surgical cosmetic procedures for medical practitioners, nurses, midwives, dentists, psychologists and Chinese medicine practitioners every year.
Dr. Vivek Eranki, a cosmetic medical practitioner with national surveillance, increases alarm after seizing two counterfeit botulinum toxin – or Botox in recent months.
“This is a more secret problem, because it is very easy for practitioners to pass it because they use a real product – but it doesn’t document exactly what it is used,” he said.
Dr Eranki describes the black market injectors as a very secret and cunning that they are injected.
“If people are trying to cover their ways, they can give the wrong information and that’s what makes it so scary,” he said.
“We know it’s fake products and it’s easy to store.”
This week, the National Medicine Regulator revealed that two fake Botox has been seized at the border in recent months.
Vials were packaged to look like a real brand, but the spelling errors warned the authorities.
The therapeutic goods administration stressed that Botox was purchased from an overseas website and confirmed that the double -manufacturer’s party numbers were illegitimate.
Since they investigate more, TGA does not want to tell you where and when the boxes were seized or what kind of organization ordered them.
In a statement, the Australian Medical Association spokesman said that people should only use qualified health practitioners.
“However, all medical procedures, including cosmetic injections to Australians, are at risk and reminds that it should be realized only by appropriate qualified health practitioners,” he said.
“Anyone who plans a procedure should ensure that the person who undertakes the procedure should understand their skills and qualifications.”
Dr Eranki said common sense is the key to avoiding shaded injectors.
“Never go to someone’s house, never go to the hairdresser salon to do your treatment. Make sure those who do your treatment are educated and qualified enough.”
“At the end of the day, the government infrastructure, regulators, authorities can only do a lot. At some point, he needs to take over common sense. And I think the solution lies here.”
In January, three Sydney women appeared to the hospital with botulism infections requiring treatment in the intensive care unit.
The Health Complaints Commission issued a temporary and then permanent forbidden order against Norsafiza Binti Zakaria, which declared its services using at least six different pseudonyms.
The Australian Health Practitioner Editorial Agency has seized illegal injections from unqualified practitioners by regulating many raids on commercial and private houses throughout the country in recent months.
Ahpra received 360 complaints about non -surgical cosmetic procedures between September 2022 and March 2025.
These declarations were made against medical practitioners, nurses, midwives, dentists, psychologists and Chinese medicine practitioners.
“If something doesn’t feel right, patients should trust and pause them if something doesn’t feel right.”
“Patients should make a registered health practitioner by asking the registration numbers of the injectors and calling them to the national practitioners registry.”
