Crackdown on illicit Botox courses widens

China's health authorities have vowed to crack down on malpractice in the medical aesthetics industry and step up supervision of botulinum toxin — an anti-wrinkle injection better known as Botox — following media reports that exposed illicit crash courses claiming to teach cosmetic procedures in just days.

Medical experts warn that receiving cosmetic procedures at non-medical institutions carries risks of side effects, infections and even life-threatening hazards, and they discourage teenagers from seeking to undergo cosmetic procedures.

Reports about questionable training courses that enroll people with no medical background emerged about a week ago. These programs claim students can master non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as injectables and thread lifts, and even some surgical treatments, within a period of three to four days.

The programs have been rolled out in at least 20 cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Shenzhen and Guangzhou in Guangdong province, China Central Television reported.

During a recent training session in Fuzhou, Fujian province, a girl who was receiving Botox injections from program participants in a hotel room suddenly passed out and was sent to emergency care. She regained consciousness and was discharged from the hospital two days later.

The National Health Commission said on Thursday that it has instructed local authorities to verify and investigate the reports and strictly punish those involved in any illegal activities.

"The commission will also collaborate with relevant departments to further strengthen regulation over misconduct in the medical aesthetics industry, promote cross-agency coordination in handling violations, and continue to crack down on illegal practices to effectively safeguard public health rights and interests," the commission said.

The commission stressed that no institution may provide medical aesthetic services without obtaining a medical institution practice license or clinic registration certificate. Physicians providing such services must possess a physician qualification certificate and physician practice license — which typically requires nearly a decade of formal education — as well as a medical aesthetic physician qualification.

The National Medical Products Administration said on Thursday that it has established a national drug traceability and supervision system to monitor the distribution of Botox products and prevent illegal use. The administration said it will continue to enhance supervision over drug quality and safety and will work with public security authorities to combat criminal activities.

China's medical aesthetics market is estimated to have surged from about 64 million yuan ($8.9 million) in 2015 to more than 300 billion yuan last year. The boom has also fueled problems such as inadequate practitioner training, unsafe practices, disorderly pricing and exaggerated advertising claims.

Wang Yongqian, chief physician at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences' Plastic Surgery Hospital, said harmful reactions to cosmetic injections at unlicensed facilities can include infections due to violations of strict aseptic protocols, allergies and complications caused by fake products.

"Non-medical professionals might accidentally inject fillers into blood vessels, which can lead to skin necrosis, blindness and even stroke," he said.

"Non-medical institutions also lack effective emergency care and will not be able to provide prompt first aid in cases of severe allergic reactions or embolism."

"Cosmetic treatments are in essence medical procedures," he said. "Consumers are advised against undergoing surgeries, laser or injectable treatments at beauty salons, nail studios and other non-medical facilities, or self-administer anti-wrinkle injections at home."

With the start of summer vacation for students, he also advised against minors undergoing cosmetic procedures because their physiological development is incomplete and their aesthetic perceptions are still evolving.