Did I Just Get Fake Botox?

The Plastic Surgery Group of Albany has pled guilty to misleading the public regarding fake Botox.  Apparently, five of the physicians in the practice admitted that they used "Tritox" on patients who were told that they were receiving injections of real Botox.

Tritox is a version of botulinum neurotoxin type A--just like Botox.  However, Tritox is not FDA approved.  On the contrary, it is not even approved for use on human beings!

Tritox, manufactured by Toxin Research International, Inc., in Tucson, Arizona, may be a good product.  I don't know; nobody does.  We are all still awaiting research documenting its efficacy and safety.

I suppose that the New York doctors purchased the Tritox in lieu of Botox because the price point was better.  However, those doctors should not have been so short sighted.  In addition to paying their legal fees, the surgical group now faces a fine of up to $500,000, and an order to pay restitution to 150 patients, who had forked over approximately $100,000 for treatments that they thought were for genuine Botox.

Also, the individual surgeons face up to one year in prison and fines of up to $100,000.  (Frankly, these guys got off light.  I am surprised that they are not going to lose their licenses.)

How can you avoid being duped?  Ask your plastic surgeon to show you the vial.  The label on authentic Botox Cosmetic is imprinted with an Allergan hologram.  (Allergan is the manufacturer of Botox.)

The only FDA-approved alternative to Botox is Dysport.  (Check out http://www.pickartplasticsurgeryblog.com/2009/05/ventura-patients-ask-botox-or-dysport.html.)  I really like Dysport--just like I love Botox.  Nevertheless, if you ask for Botox, and if you pay for Botox, that's what you should get.