By News Karnataka
A series of illegal cosmetic treatments using unlicensed anti-wrinkle injections has left at least 28 women in northeast England seriously ill 鈥 some fighting for their lives 鈥 after being injected with a toxic Botox-type product called Toxpia.
Gemma Gray, the beautician behind the procedures, ran her business Belissimo Aesthetics from her home near Bishop Auckland and a salon in Blackhall, County Durham. She offered discounted 鈥淏otox鈥 treatments for as little as 拢75, using the unapproved Toxpia, a South Korean botulinum toxin not licensed in the UK. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirms that selling or supplying it is a criminal offence.
Kaylie Bailey鈥檚 near-fatal reaction
Kaylie Bailey, 36, a mother-of-three from Peterlee, received the injections from Gray and was later hospitalised with botulism, a rare but life-threatening condition. Initially misdiagnosed with ptosis, Kaylie鈥檚 health deteriorated rapidly. She stopped breathing, had to be resuscitated, and spent three days in intensive care.
鈥淚 remember lying on the bed thinking, 鈥業鈥檓 dying here and I don鈥檛 want to,’鈥 she recalled tearfully. She now wears an eye patch and lives with the trauma of a treatment that nearly killed her.
Paula Harrison鈥檚 warning
Another victim, Paula Harrison, 54, became severely ill after under-eye and wrinkle treatments. She was also hospitalised and treated with an anti-toxin. 鈥淢y throat was closing, and I couldn鈥檛 eat,鈥 she said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 playing with people鈥檚 lives. I could鈥檝e been dead.鈥
The scale of the crisis
Hospitals in the region ran out of anti-toxin stocks due to the spike in botulism cases. The BBC has confirmed that a second aesthetic practitioner linked to Gray also administered Toxpia, causing illness in more clients.
Gray claimed the issue was a 鈥渘ationwide problem鈥 and that she was devastated, calling it a 鈥渢rial treatment.鈥 However, the BBC found no evidence supporting the claim of a national outbreak.
Investigation and official warning
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is leading an ongoing investigation. Authorities are warning people to verify that practitioners are qualified, insured, and using licensed medical products.
A government spokesperson said:
鈥淧eople鈥檚 lives are being put at risk by inadequately trained operators. We urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to research their practitioner carefully.鈥
Gemma Gray has refused to comment publicly.