'I tried Botox for the first time and was left with lumps on both sides of my face'

Donna McDonald tried Botox for the first time after being drawn in by a social media advert offering the cosmetic procedure at a bargain price.

But what she received turned out to be bogus.

The procedure left her with a huge infection and lumps on both sides of her face.

“It was almost too good to be true, and that should have been the sign, to be honest,” Donna told STV News.

“There was a lot of bleeding after I’d had it done, I felt blood trickling down my face during it too – then my face swelled up into a boil type thing.

“I’m scarred for life now. There’s nothing I can do about that.”

Donna felt embarrassed and delayed going to the GP, but she was left with no choice when her symptoms didn’t improve.

She added: “They suspect it’s an infection, a rare infection, and the treatment will involve months and months of antibiotics. If it’s just my face rejecting whatever has been put into it, I could possibly need steroid injections, which could lead to more scarring.

“I also had to get blood tests done to make sure I didn’t catch HIV or hepatitis.

“It’s unbelievable.”

The business of Botox and dermal fillers is booming – but concerns over safety are also increasing.

There is no legislation to stop unqualified individuals from administering these treatments despite Botox being a prescription-only medication.

As a result, there has been a surge in unregulated “Botox parties”, where alcohol and social settings blur the line between cosmetic procedures and risky behaviour.

For many, the cheap options seem too good to pass up, but the consequences can be life-changing.

Professionals working in the sector say they see cases like Donna’s on a daily basis.

Cosmetic surgeon and campaigner Dr Darren McKeown has accused ministers of turning a blind eye.

He said: “We know the people administering the treatments in these places have no medical qualifications. We know that very often patients are treated without seeing a prescriber, so there is no valid prescription for the medications they are being treated with, often without prescriptions, and there is no other country in Europe that allows non-healthcare professionals to perform these procedures.”

Dr McKeown believes the lack of regulation has led to an explosion of cosmetic cowboys, who are now deeply embedded in Scotland’s £400m beauty industry.

And the rise of so-called Botox parties – isn’t helping.

He said: “No regulated healthcare professional would ever perform treatments in the context of a party setting. It’s not safe, it’s not ethical, and frankly, it’s a disgrace that it’s allowed to go on in Scotland unchallenged.”

The Scottish Government has recently concluded a consultation on regulating the non-surgical cosmetic procedures industry and clarifying who can and cannot carry them out.

Jenni Minto, minister for public health and women’s health, told STV News she’s seeking to put forward legislation that is both “robust” and “future proof”.

She said: “Every piece of legislation is a balancing act, which is why it’s so important to engage with those who are providing the services, as well as those accessing the services.

“We have to get it right, you can’t just bring legislation in quickly – you have to have the right evidence and support.”

As the debate continues, the public is urged to remain vigilant when seeking cosmetic treatments.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland has called on everyone to check whether their chosen clinic is registered and regulated to ensure their safety.

All private clinics, hospitals, and hospices where healthcare professionals provide services are legally required to register with the organisation.

Eddie Docherty, director of quality assurance and regulation at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “Having a cosmetic treatment is a serious undertaking that should only be entered into with due consideration of the very real risks to an individual’s health and safety.

“Bringing together the injecting of Botox, alcohol, and a party atmosphere reduces people’s judgement and their ability to properly provide consent and consider the real risks.

“No clinic regulated by us, and run by a healthcare professional, would be permitted to run Botox parties as an appropriate environment to provide such a treatment.

“We would urge anyone looking to get cosmetic interventions to think about their health and wellbeing, and put their care into the hands of professionals with years of appropriate training and experience behind them, and where they can trust them to make their wellbeing a priority.

“In addition, if you are receiving Botox from a beautician, then it may be a product that has been imported from overseas and not authorised for use in the UK.

“Only a trained and experienced healthcare professional should administer Botox, acquired through a registered pharmacist, as they can access it legally, understand the physiology of the face in order to administer it correctly, and have ready access to effective medicines if something goes wrong.”

He added: “People should always check that a clinic is registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland before undertaking treatments.”