'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 , 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 is risky under any circumstances," the department advised.

(c) 2009 AFP

Citation: 'Beauty' injections can turn ugly: NY health officials (2009, April 17) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2009-04-beauty-ugly-ny-health.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Mineral oil contamination in humans: A health problem?

 shares

Feedback to editors