March 15, 2006
By Candace Rotolo
Naples -


A California woman is dead and another is recovering all in the name of beauty.

The two women received bogus Botox injections at a Salinas, California beauty salon. A woman from the salon would go the patrons' homes to administer the treatment. She's now under arrest.

Local plastic surgeons say they hear about unlicensed people administering Botox, mostly on the east coast of Florida. But when it comes to plastic surgery, cutting corners can be deadly.

Denise Zimm of Naples knows getting cosmetic work done can cost a pretty penny, and you get what you pay for.

"You go to a beauty shop to get one thing, you don't go for plastic surgery." she says, surprised at the news that someone would get a cosmetic service from a beautician.

That's why when she decided to get Botox injections, she did her homework.

"I look on the website. I check out the different doctors in town," she adds.

But plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Maloney says too many people --- both doctors and customers -- cut corners to save money.

"There's a whole community of people who are practicing medicine without a license," he says. "But unfortunately, because there's profit to be made, these are flourishing and the consumer has no idea what they're getting and where they're coming from, what the effects are going to be."

Botox is a version of botulism, one of the deadliest poisons in the world. But when it's properly diluted, it's safe for cosmetic use. In the wrong hands, it can be deadly.

"Basically, it paralyzes the muscles in your body so it reduces the ability to breathe," Dr. Maloney says.

He doesn't doubt there are underground networks of unlicensed people administering Botox or other fillers here in Southwest Florida, although he doesn't have first hand knowledge.

Dr. Maloney adds some doctors are buying Botox from out of the country, which he believes is equally as dangerous as getting a bad injection.

The manufacturer who makes Botox has a list of approved doctors on it's website. See the link below for more information.

>> BOTOX® Cosmetic