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Dr. Kim Mulvihill reportingFor a growing number of Americans, the Fountain of Youth is found at the tip of a needle. But this afternoon, we have a warning for women about cosmetic injections. In the wrong hands, things can turn ugly.
What bride doesn't want to look perfect on her wedding day? "We go on our diets. We do our tanning. Why not a little injection a few weeks before the wedding to make sure everything is perfect?" asked Katrina Kalanick, of Fresno, Calif.
With weeks to spare, Kalanick went to a local beauty salon. She got what she thought was collagen to erase the crease in her forehead.
The "collagen" was injected by a man who told Kalanick he was a licensed physician. However, Fresno law enforcement says Mario Nieves Perez is no doctor. What's more, what he injected into Kalanick's forehead hardened into a disfiguring, painful lump.
Investigators tested the substance and found it was industrial-grade silicone; the same kind of stuff used in bathroom tub caulking.
Incidents like this don't just happen in Fresno. These botched injections are showing up all across the country.
"This is happening across America. This is no longer a small-town problem. The use of injectables, the use of adulterated silicone, is rapidly expanding," explained Dr. Seth Matarasso, of San Fransisco.
Matarasso says so far, he's seen a half-dozen Bay Area women disfigured by disastrous cosmetic injections. He says the women are so embarrassed they typically don't go the police What's worse, the damage to their faces is permanent.
The Medical Board of California says the growing demand for cosmetic procedures, from Botox to lasers, is tempting unscrupulous operators to make a quick buck.
Matarasso says the field is under-regulated. "There is this whole ‘wild, wild west' [idea] that anyone can do this," he said.
As for Perez, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office charged him with 29 felony counts. While on bail, he escaped to Mexico. He left behind a trail of victims, including Tiffany Barton.
Barton thought she was getting a bargain: just $100 for plumper lips. But she ended up paying a high price. "This is not me. It's uncomfortable. It's painful," she said.
If a price seems too good to be true, buyer beware! In Utah, as in California, certain cosmetic procedures can be done in salons, but only under the supervision of a licensed physician with a properly trained and certified staff.
Medical officials strongly urge anyone thinking about a cosmetic procedure to verify the physician's credentials and history independently. You can do so online by clicking the related link or calling (801) 530-6628.
They also suggest you ask to see the product before it's taken out of the box. The box should be sealed with a lot number that can be traced.
E-mail: drkim@ksl.com
