UAE warns against unsafe silicone jabs
dubai — Using unsafe silicone injections to enhance the size of certain body parts could lead to serious injuries and irreversible deformities, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has warned. Incorrect administration of such injections could even lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
The ministry issued the warning in response to advertisements doing the rounds on social media about injections promoted as being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Most promises made in such ads are not based on medical facts. Cosmetic surgeries need to be supervised by doctors, specialists and surgeons and not by beauty salon staff,” said Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for public health policy and licensing.
He warned that hospitals in the
Cosmetic surgeries need to be supervised by doctors, specialists and surgeons and not by beauty salon staff Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant undersecretary for public health policy and licensing
UAE have received emergency cases “resulting from serious health complications caused by illegal medical practitioners using unknown cosmetic injections”.
“If the needles are not sterile, they can be a source of infections. Injecting close to the eyes leads to the fall of the eyelid on the eye and could cause nerve damage outside the area of the facial muscles. Silicone may also reach areas other than the muscles of the face, causing temporary muscle paralysis,” said the ministry.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHP) has warned healthcare practitioners and community members about the risks involved in using silicone injections, which are falsely promoted as approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Injections used to enhance the size of buttocks, breasts and other parts of the body can lead to serious injuries and irreversible deformities.
In the circular sent to the directors of the medical districts, public and private hospitals, doctors, pharmacists and assistant pharmacists and directors of public and private pharmacies, the ministry recommends ensuring the safety of these products before using them. The FDA has made it clear that the only approved use for silicone injections is the silicone oil used in the intraocular injection for some limited indications.
Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for public health policy and licensing at the MOHP, said that since 2008 the UAE has been one of the leading countries in the region and the world in enacting legislation and imposing strict controls for the registration of medical devices such as silicone injections. This is part of its strategy to provide a vital legislative framework, good governance and quality regulatory services for the health sector.
“The process is not limited to the marketing authorisation in terms of ensuring necessary validation from the internationally approved assessment centres, including the FDA, and ensuring necessary trials have been done and confirming standards of quality. The ministry also obligates manufacturers and suppliers to submit periodic reports on the safety and post-marketing surveillance reports, in accordance with the requirements of the ministry, which are in line with the best international standards,” he said.
Risk of injections
Individuals who go for silicone injections should be aware of the risks associated with these injections. If the needles are not sterile, they can be the source of infections. Individuals must be careful in selecting the clinic for these kinds of procedures. Injecting close to the eyes leads to the fall of the eyelid on the eye, and local bleeding may occur in the tissues. The injections can also cause nerve damage outside the area of the facial muscles. Silicone may also reach areas other than the muscles of the face, causing temporary muscle paralysis. The procedure also involves risks related to anesthesia and hypersensitivity to anesthetics. In some cases, a serious reaction can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Medical reports have cited a variability in response to silicone between the skin and muscles. A resistance to silicone develops over time, or the amount of injected material may become less effective or lose its effectiveness altogether. The patient may experience a leakage of the eyebrows and the fall of the eyelid due to overdose or error in choosing the location of the injection. In addition to the chance of his or her smile becoming asymmetrical, the patient may also suffer from leakage of some saliva, if silicone is improperly injected in the mouth. Respiratory problems arising from large quantities of the substance injected into the neck are also common. Consequently, patients may suffer depression and isolation for months before correcting the defects caused by incorrect administration of silicone injections.
Warning from FDA authorities
Dr Al Amiri pointed out that the FDA has issued a warning to consumers and healthcare workers about the serious injuries and deformities that could result from the use of injectable silicone or products marketed to fill the skin to enhance the size of the buttocks, breasts and other parts of the body.
The FDA has confirmed that it has significant concerns about unsafe silicone injections that are marketed for body sculpting by unauthorised persons, with serious effects sometimes caused by silicon. The FDA has intervened to take action against perpetrators who promote these products and has also informed the public of the risks, which include permanent deformities and even death.
The MOHP official added that the FDA recognises proven medical observations — such as the increased risk of cancerous white blood cells forming in women who have undergone injection — and acknowledges that there are other medical doubts about the different adverse effects.
The FDA has issued a warning to consumers and healthcare workers about the injuries that could result from the use of injectable silicone to enhance their body.” Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary, public health policy and licensing, MOHP