Why You Should Avoid Illegal Cosmetic Procedures

Watch The CBS News Story “Black Market Butt Injections In Dallas, Texas“

In Dallas, Texas, a woman was convicted of murder in 2015 after she illegally injected silicone into a woman’s buttocks during an illegal cosmetic buttock enhancement procedure.

The patient receiving the injections was attempting to enhance the size and shape of her buttocks and had previously received regular silicone injections. She died when the injected silicone entered a blood vessel, traveled through her bloodstream, and poisoned her. The silicone eventually blocked one of her lungs, reducing oxygen intake and causing suffocation.

The Dangers of Unregulated Silicone Injections

The defendant, ‘Wee Wee’ Ross, was not licensed to practice medicine or cosmetic procedures in Texas. She practiced out of a Dallas warehouse, reportedly sealing injection sites with glue and cotton balls.

The silicone used in the case was an industrial-grade silicone caulk. Approved applications for this material include automotive and marine repair, arts and crafts, home remodeling, and roofing.

In Miami-Dade County, Florida, another woman died in 2015 after she received injections of liquid silicone at the hands of someone else who was unlicensed and unqualified. The perpetrator, Deanna Roberts, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison in May of 2017.

The woman was injected with liquid silicone, a practice known as pumping. Liquid silicone is a product that has been banned from use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic procedures in the United States for years. Liquid silicone injections were previously used to enhance different areas of the body, such as the face and lips. These injections were taken off the market because they often left uneven results, disfigurement, or scarring.

After the ban of liquid silicone, the procedure went underground. This meant practitioners would often perform the procedure in unsanitary conditions and non-sterile conditions.

Many people undergoing liquid silicone injections, legally or illegally, often deal with inflammation after the injection. Treatments include antibiotic therapy, pain relievers, and at times, patients may need surgery to remove silicone that has hardened in an area.

These are examples of the many illegal or underground cosmetic procedures performed in Texas and across the United States each year according to a study published in the Journal of Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology.

Patients undergo underground cosmetic procedures in order to save money or get a procedure they want that is banned in the United States. The Journal of Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology reports underground or black market cosmetic procedures are hard to track, because in many cases, the victims of botched illegal or underground cosmetic procedures choose not to report their reactions, and may only seek help when a serious situation arises.

The results of these procedures can be extreme, and in some cases cause infection, amputation, and death.

“Cosmetic procedures are still medical procedures, so it is important that patients do their research on the physician performing the procedure, the procedure they want, and where this procedure will be performed,” said Bill Johnson, M.D., of Innovations Medical.

The Benefits of Licensed Cosmetic Procedures

Dr. Johnson is a cosmetic physician in Dallas, Texas, licensed to perform buttock enhancements, including the Brazilian Butt Lift. This procedure uses fat grafted directly from a patient to lift and reshape the buttocks.

At Innovations Medical, he and his team perform a range of procedures including tumescent liposuction, Fraxel laser skin rejuvenation, and VI Peel chemical peels. Dr. Johnson also uses fat to lift and reshape the face and breasts.

A significant benefit to using fat for lifting and reshaping procedures is that it is naturally collected from the patient. The result is no risk of reaction or rejection. Another benefit is that it stimulates collagen production, further tightening the skin and leaving patients with great results.

Dr. Johnson suggests to patients who are looking for cosmetic procedures to schedule consultations with the provider that they want to use, and be prepared with questions regarding credentials and licensing, as well as questions about the procedure and post-operative care.

After gathering credentialing and licensing information, if patients are unsure, they should go to the licensing agencies to ensure their physician is in fact licensed to perform that procedure in the state they are practicing in.

Contact Innovations Medical to Learn about Our Safe and Effective Cosmetic Procedures

If you’re looking to improve the way you look, including enhancing your buttocks, Innovations Medical is here for you. Our skilled professionals help you decide which treatment is best for you – keeping you informed and confident in the next steps. We’ve been helping our patients look and feel their best since 2005, and even our most advanced procedures are often minimally invasive.

To find out if our cosmetic procedures, including Brazilian Butt Lift, are right for you, and to learn how Innovations Medical can improve your life, call us at (214) 643-8665 or schedule a consultation.