Cosmetic Medicine Cowboys. Newstalk ZB Simon Barnett talks with Dr Sarah Hart 

The face of a Kiwi is, by and large, a natural one. Compared to other parts of the world such as Europe, China and the US, we're a down-to-earth bunch - our age lines and imperfections are all right with us.

But as Botox and fillers become more commonplace, plastic surgeons and cosmetic doctors are warning that without changes to legislation, the bubble may be about to burst on our cosmetically unenhanced innocence.

For Auckland-based cosmetic doctor and censor of the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine (NZSCM), Dr Sarah Hart, she's seen the age bracket shift to a younger set of women wanting lip fillers and Botox. And in general, says the demand for injectables has quadrupled since lockdown.

She spoke with Simon Barnett & James Daniels about her concerns about the lack of public understanding about what qualifications to look for in a practitioner and a legislation "loop hole" which means anyone can import and inject dermal fillers.

Click image to link to interview: 

STUFF Article 26.11.21 -  Woman suffered severe reaction to cosmetic injection, 'ignored' by beauty provider.

An Auckland woman says she was unable to walk for several days after suffering an extreme reaction to cosmetic leg-injections.

Twenty-five-year-old Becky Zhao got botulinum toxin injections – commonly known as botox – for slimmer legs, which she said left her with a fever and “intense” pain.

She has since been ignored by the provider and is still in the dark about what went wrong, with the beauty salon refusing to give evidence of its licence to give injections, she said.

Botulinum toxin is a prescription medicine that should only be administered by medical practitioners.

Dr Sarah Hart, censor for the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine (NZSCM), said botulinum toxin injections were safe when given professionally, but Zhao’s symptoms were outside what should be experienced.

Click image to link to article: 

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