'Beauty' injections can turn ugly: NY health officials

New Yorkers looking for a quick beauty fix risk death from unlicensed practitioners offering oil injections to enhance prized body parts, health authorities warned Friday.

The city health department said silicone, petroleum jelly, castor oil, mineral oil or cod liver oil were among substances injected by unscrupulous practitioners.

"People who undergo these unsafe procedures hope to enhance their appearance, but the reality can be lifelong deformity and even death," said Doctor Nathan Graber, director of the city's environmental and occupational disease program.

The health department said in a statement that side effects include "serious infections, nerve damage, respiratory and kidney failure, irreversible disabilities, disfigurement and death."

The department said it was aware of five cases in the last two years in which oil injections had been given to the hips, thighs, breasts and buttocks.

The department warned New Yorkers to avoid treatments done at home, in hotels or anywhere other than a licensed clinic.

"The use of oils to enhance body parts is risky under any circumstances," the department advised.

(c) 2009 AFP

   

• gopher65 - Apr 17, 2009
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  When I read a story like this I have to wonder: who are the moronic nutjobs who will wander into a *hotel room* and get a surgical procedure done. Does that not raise any red flags with you? Are you really that stupid?
  
  I'm sure that the people at the New York City Health Department are shaking their heads, wondering how they have sunk low enough to be putting out warnings that are the healthcare equivalent of "Warning: Hot" text on coffee.
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