by Louise Doyle
A DONEGAL doctor who says she is aware unlicensed botox products are being unethically administered by unqualified people in hairdressing salons in the county has voiced her alarm.
Dr Farah Mydin is calling for legislation around the use of anti wrinkle injections and dermal fillers to be prioritised by the government before more harm is done.
The aesthetic beauty industry in Ireland includes lip fillers to anti-wrinkle injections, from thread-lifts to teeth procedures, and much more.
Many of these treatments are being offered not just by reputable street clinics, but also by individuals on social media, away from the glare of any regulation.
Botox products are a prescription only product, which, by law, can only in Ireland be administered by a doctor, dentist, or a registered nurse under the direction of a medical doctor.
A qualified GP and aesthetics consultant, Dr Mydin opened her clinic, Medical Skin Clinic, last year.
She was speaking to the Donegal News this week in the wake of RTÉ Investigates programme ‘Botox and Beauty At Any Cost’, which aired recently.
The investigative programme uncovered how products like botox are being administered by unqualified individuals.
It uncovered how botox is illegally moved through hair salons, and how easy it is to buy prescription only medications while being advised to change the labels to avoid detection.
The programme found individuals and businesses were handling, selling and injecting botox-type products illegally. Many use unlicensed products, often imported from south Korea.
Dr Mydin described the programme as “an eye opener” and said that she believed the same things were happening closer to home.
“There is so much going on. I have seen hairdressers offer botox injections. There are a good few places in Donegal advertising it. It’s very scary because these products are a prescription only medicine.
“There are strict guidelines to adhere to. I have no idea how people are getting their hands on the controlled product, and we don’t know in such situations if the product has been properly tested.”
Dr Mydin said she is particularly concerned about the dangers posed by incorrectly administering dermal fillers.
“Dermal fillers are injections that plump up wrinkles and smooth lines on a person’s face. It’s very dangerous if these are administered incorrectly. Dermal fillers are injected into the skin but if it lodges into the blood vessel it causes the death of the skin around it.
“The product to reverse the potential harmful affects of dermal fillers is not available in outlets like hairdressers.
“Reversing affects can be very difficult, especially because it is not known what is in the products being used. These are the things I would urge people to consider. I don’t want to scaremonger people, but people need to be aware of the dangers.”
Dr Mydin said people across all age groups are opting for dermal fillers and botox injections. She said she is particularly concerned by the large numbers of people coming to her for advise on corrective procedures.
“People may come to me for under eye filler correction after it has been carried out by someone not qualified to do so. I have no way of knowing what is in that product and often I cannot correct it for them, meaning they have to go to Dublin. I have to be responsible for what I do, and I have to protect my own license.
“There seems to be zero regulations, and that is the most frightening aspect. I think the programme did a great job in highlighting how easy it is to get treatment that is not monitored or controlled. It was an eye opener,” said Dr Mydin.
Born in Malaysia, Dr Mydin first came to Ireland in 2001 to study medicine in Trinity College Dublin.
She graduated in 2008, completing her internship in Dublin before moving to Donegal.
She completed her foundation training for aesthetics in 2015 and has been working in the industry since. She lives in Portnoo.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)