“Beef Botox nearly killed me”
Marcelle King wanted a more youthful appearance, but ended up fighting for her life after being injected with meat gelatine
Looking at her L face in the mirror, Marcelle King feels lucky to be alive. The 63 year old is still suffering the effects after falling victim to a bogus doctor five years ago, who shockingly injected her face with a substance taken from beef cattle rather than Botox, as she’d expected.
Now, not only is Marcelle left with some visible injuries, she also struggles to watch TV, enjoy a film or even drive for long periods due to nerve and muscle damage.
Marcelle, a self-employed dog behaviourist who lives with her husband Roger, 69, in Dorset, says, “After my injuries, police launched an investigation and blood tests revealed that my doctor had injected me with beef gelatine – made from skin, bone and tendons from cows – which he’d probably bought on the internet.”
HORROR FILM
She adds, “I still can’t believe it. It’s like something out of a horror film. Forensic surgeons said that the reaction to it could have killed me.
“I only wanted Botox to look younger, but my face ballooned and I was left looking like Frankenstein’s monster. There needs to be tighter regulations to stop dodgy doctors ruining people’s lives, as Botox is currently not covered by the Care Quality Commission and anyone can administer it, as long as they have permission from a doctor.
“I’d warn anyone considering having the cosmetic procedure to carefully research their beautician before going through with it. I dread to think how many other women have been affected.”
Marcelle first began considering cosmetic work in July 2013. She says, “I was browsing Facebook when I saw an advert for Botox locally at a cost of £300. I was self-conscious about my jowls and frown lines, so I booked an appointment as a little treat to myself.
“However, when I turned up for my treatment the following week, I was shocked to find the ‘clinic’ was actually in a grubby kitchen in a residential house. I was being treated by Ozan Melin.
“I felt uneasy as I hadn’t had the procedure before, but Ozan had a calm, confident demeanour, which made me feel better about it.
AGONISING PAIN
“He injected me 15 times and the pain was agonising, but I kept telling myself it was worth it to look younger.”
However, three weeks later, Marcelle’s frown lines were still not improved, so she returned to Ozan for a free top-up.
She says, “The first time I had Botox it was painful, but this time it felt excruciating – like someone burning cigarettes on my face. I rushed out as
soon as it was finished, but when I got in my car I was horrified to catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror.
“My face had swollen, I was bright red, and I felt sick.”
And as the night went on, Marcelle’s condition got worse. She says, “My face was so puffy and blistered that I could barely see. I was also struggling to breathe and was too scared to sleep in case I suffocated.
“My husband was terrified and kept telling me to go to hospital, but I was too embarrassed and worried that people would think it was self-inflicted.
“Instead, later that evening, I sent Ozan a photo of my face. He told me it was normal and to take some ibuprofen and put a warm flannel on my face.”
But by the next morning, Marcelle was in so much pain she went to her GP, who immediately sent her to A&E.
She says, “A swarm of medics hooked me up to monitors and machines. They also explained that I was having anaphylactic shock and could have died. “After six hours of being on a drip full of medication, I was allowed home, with a cocktail of antibiotics, antihistamines and steroids.
“But my face was still swollen for the next three weeks and I was exhausted and too ill to work, so I lost over £1,000 in earnings.”
Marcelle texted Ozan to complain and he promised to refund her – but only in cash.
She says, “The hospital consultant was suspicious and told me to ring the General Medical Council, who told me they had no record of Ozan. Terrified, I phoned the police, who launched an investigation.”
It took the police almost five years to get enough evidence to take Ozan to court where he was found guilty of two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent after another woman, Carol Kingscott, also suffered a similar reaction to his treatment. The police called it a landmark case.
But Marcelle wasn’t prepared for what happened next.
She says, “Tests from a Botox company showed that Ozan had injected both me and Carol with unpurified beef gelatine – we believe he’d ordered it off the black market, online. I’m lucky I didn’t die because it can cause an allergic reaction.”
PERMANENT DAMAGE
Ozan is due to be sentenced next month and Marcelle is now keen to stop any more women being affected in the future. She says, “I want to raise awareness of the dangers of bogus Botox.
“My mouth muscles and nerves above my eyes are now permanently damaged, which means I can’t do normal things like watch TV. I even struggle to smile normally.
“I’ll have to live with this pain for the rest of my life. No beauty procedure is worth that.”
❛MY FACE WAS PUFFY AND I COULDN’T BREATHE – I THOUGHT I’D SUFFOCATE❜
● For advice on cosmetic work, please visit www.baaps.org.uk