Botox treatments are one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States. The procedure involves the injection of a purified form of botulin —a deadly toxin—that helps temporarily paralyze facial muscles to smooth out the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. While Botox is considered very safe when administered properly, it could prove deadly if the wrong chemical is used.

A new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association writes of a Florida couple who went to get Botox, but instead were injected with raw botulin . Experts estimate that the couple received nearly 3,000 times the lethal dose of the toxic chemical. Both suffered botulism—a condition resulting in paralysis and sometimes death—but survived.

What Does This Mean

So what does this news mean to the millions of Americans who get Botox every year? According to officials, the regulations surrounding the sales and distribution of the drug should be tightened to prevent such events from occurring again.

“The issue we have is that there is an amount of toxin which one could buy fairly freely that could be used in illegitimate ways,” said Dr. Christopher R. Braden, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and co-author of the report.

According to another author of the report and epidemiologist at the C.D.C Jeremy Sobel, “When a doctor opens a vial of genuine licensed Botox, there is really no serious risk. But the people in Florida were injected with botulinum toxin, one of the most toxic substances, if not the most toxic substance known to man.”

Safety Tips

Douglas S. Ingram, chief administrative officer of Allergan Inc., the manufacturer of Botox, says that it is extremely important for consumers to make sure they are receiving the real government-approved form of the drug.

You can do this by choosing only a licensed professional who has extensive experience and training administering the chemical. Furthermore, always ask to see the vial of Botox to ensure it carries the special hologram, which proves the authenticity of the drug.

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