A County Durham woman says she “nearly died” after receiving what she believed were Botox injections—only to later discover she had been injected with an illegal, unlicensed alternative.
Kaylie Bailey, 36, paid £75 for three injections of what was advertised as a “new type of Botox”—half the price she’d previously paid the same provider. But just days later, she began experiencing blurry vision and other worrying symptoms.
According to the BBC, Bailey visited Sunderland Royal Hospital, where doctors initially suspected ptosis—a condition that causes drooping eyelids. She was sent home and told to rest, with doctors noting the symptoms might be linked to the recent cosmetic injections. The hospital trust later explained that botulinum toxicity is so rare that many doctors never encounter it during their careers.
Bailey’s condition worsened, and within days, she was back in the hospital—this time diagnosed with botulism, a rare and potentially fatal illness caused by toxins from Clostridium botulinum, the same bacterium used in Botox.
According to the NHS, botulism can be life-threatening if it affects the muscles used for breathing, with death occurring in 5 to 10 percent of cases. It attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis. In Bailey’s case, the illness caused her to stop breathing, and she was rushed into intensive care where she was successfully resuscitated.
“I remember lying on the bed thinking, ‘I’m dying here and I don’t want to,’” she told the BBC.
Further investigation revealed she had been injected with Toxpia, a Botox-like anti-wrinkle product that is illegal for use in the UK.
When Bailey contacted the injector afterward, she was told there was a “nationwide problem with the product.” But health authorities confirmed the substance used was not authorized in the UK.
“I cannot believe she even dared to do that to people,” Bailey said. “She didn’t even know what was in it, and we’re having to live with what she’s done to us. I’ve nearly died because of it.”
Bailey isn’t the only victim. The BBC reports that 54-year-old Paula Harrison was also hospitalized in May after receiving injections from the same woman.
The UK Health Security Agency has launched an ongoing investigation into the use of illegal cosmetic injectables.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care issued a warning:
“We urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to consider the possible health impacts and find a reputable, insured, and qualified practitioner.”
