Health authorities have issued an urgent warning about a cheap “Botox” weight loss procedure being offered in Turkey.
67 patients from across Europe contracted botulism after receiving the injections in two different clinics. No UK cases have been reported to date.
The condition, which can prove life-threatening, is caused by toxins produced by bacteria. It can lead to paralysis if not treated urgently.
All of the patients were given stomach or gastric botox, which paralyzes the muscles in the digestive system and slows digestion to help them fight the bulge.
Turkish clinics are offering patients who want to lose weight the injections normally used to get rid of wrinkles for as little as £850.
European health authorities have issued an alert about a spate of botulism cases thought to have been triggered by ‘Botox’ weight loss procedures in Turkey (stock image)
This is a fraction of the price of similar weight loss procedures in the UK and US.
All cases were logged between February 22 and March 1, 2023.
Botox is the name of the product of the US pharmaceutical giant AbbVie. Clinics in Turkey claim they use this anti-wrinkle injection – but the company says the procedure has nothing to do with its product.
Botox and botulism both originate from toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria and these toxins are very dangerous.
But it’s usually safe when used by a trained doctor to paralyze muscles for a range of treatments.
However, if the toxins are administered incorrectly, symptoms such as weakness, difficulty breathing and/or swallowing can occur.
This can lead to paralysis and even death if severe and untreated, with up to one in ten cases of botulism being fatal.
While most known cases have been mild, several patients have been hospitalized, according to European health officials.
They advise any patient who has undergone “Botox” weight loss treatment in Turkey within the suspected dates to contact a doctor immediately, especially if they experience symptoms of botulism.
Most cases with known dates were reported in Turkey itself (53), followed by Germany (12) with one each in Austria and Switzerland.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, which issued the alert, said exactly what caused the botulism was unclear.
Turkish authorities had tracked most of the cases in two clinics, 60 of which were linked to a private hospital in the capital, Istanbul. Three are connected to a private site in Izmir.
British surgeons are increasingly concerned that the NHS is helping to subsidize poor care abroad, with the bill estimated to have cost taxpayers £4.8million over the past four years
Here, MailOnline details some of the most striking differences in some cosmetic procedures in the UK and Turkey
Cosmetic procedures are often available in Turkey at bargain prices compared to their British counterparts. Turkey and UK prices were sourced from multiple websites (model is an archive image)
They also found that while licensed “Botox” was used in the clinics, these products were not specifically approved for the treatment of obesity.
Since then they have stopped all activities in the relevant departments of the hospitals and initiated further investigations against those involved.
Stomach or gastric botox is touted by Turkish cosmetic and weight loss clinics as a cheap and easier option for people to lose weight compared to full surgery.
According to medical tourism booking agencies, which ensure Brits go under the knife in Turkey, the procedure costs just £850.
During the procedure, the endoscope — a long tube with a camera at the end — is inserted into the patient’s mouth to reach their stomach.
“Botox” is then injected into the stomach wall using an endoscopy device that follows the camera.
According to clinics, the procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes and does not require general anesthesia.
The resulting paralysis of the stomach muscles slows down the digestion of food, filling the person and theoretically helping them lose weight.
However, like other “Botox” procedures, it is not permanent and the abdominal muscles return to normal in about four to six months, meaning people can gain weight again.
A spokesman for AbbVie said: “AbbVie is aware of reports of off-label use of botulinum toxins, following a statement from Turkey’s Ministry of Health on March 11, 2023.
“We do not promote the use of our products for non-approved indications and we strictly adhere to only approved indications in all our activities.
‘Patient safety is our top priority and we are committed to meeting the highest standards of product quality.’
Health authorities in the UK have yet to issue a similar warning to their EU counterparts.
However, the government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is urging Britons to be incredibly cautious about operations in the country and to carefully investigate any operations or procedures.
The government says at least 22 Britons have died in Turkey after medical tourism visits since the beginning of 2019.
In addition to the deaths, many more Britons have suffered health consequences from a Turkish operation, with the NHS and taxpayers footing the bill.
Activists have even dubbed Turkey the ‘Butcher Capital’, with botched overseas operations costing the financially strapped NHS an estimated £5million in four years.
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