When Sharon saw a message pop up on one of the beauty “model lists” she belongs to, she didn’t think twice.
The offer was hard to resist: three areas of non-surgical laser treatment EndoliftX for just £100.
Sharon has had cosmetic procedures in the past so wasn’t worried[/caption]
Sharon’s swollen face after the procedure[/caption]
She then suffered from a terrible black eye[/caption]
Normally, the treatment runs into the thousands, and that should have been the first red flag she saw.
Marketed as a procedure that can tighten and stimulate the skin and reduce excess fat, EndoliftX was something that instantly appealed to her.
“I’d always hated that one of my eyebrows sat lower,” she explains. “Ever since I was kicked in the face as a teenager, the fat pad under my eye reattached lower, and it really shows in photos.
“I’d tried Botox, threads, fillers, but I thought maybe EndoliftX could finally give me that lift without going under the knife.”
The clinic seemed busy, offering everything from Botox to facials and fillers. It didn’t look overtly medical, but Sharon wasn’t concerned.
She had trained in aesthetics herself and had undergone dozens of procedures before, often through “model call” discounts where clinics need volunteers to practise on.
“I knew what I was getting into – you’re basically a guinea pig – but I thought, well, if it works, amazing, and if not, at least it was cheap,” she tells Fabulous.
“I’m never a nervous patient as I’ve had lots done before.
“I knew there was going to be some level of discomfort, and if I’m honest, I knew it was probably too good to be true, as my cousin had EndoliftX in L.A. and paid thousands of pounds. But I didn’t really expect a high level of pain.”
The moment the treatment began, however, she knew something was wrong instantly.
“As soon as the procedure started, I knew something wasn’t right – it felt like my skin was being burned and it was really painful,” she explains. “I have a really high pain threshold, so it takes a lot for me to be in pain.
“The practitioner tried to tell me this was normal and that it would settle and held my hand, but I was worried that she wasn’t trained to carry out a procedure like this.
“Once the treatment was done, I couldn’t believe how swollen it was and how quickly the bruising had come up.
“They tried to reassure me and said to just go home and take Ibuprofen, so I just left.”
When Sharon got home, her partner was shocked by her appearance and said she “looked ridiculous”, comparing the aftermath of the procedure to being “punched in the face”.
That night she struggled to sleep, wincing every time she turned her head on the pillow.
You’re basically a guinea pig – but I thought, well, if it works, amazing, and if not, at least it was cheap.
Sharon
“I kept checking the mirror, watching the swelling spread,” she continues.
“I didn’t recognise myself and that was just hours after the treatment. I kept thinking, if it looks like this already, what on earth is it going to look like tomorrow?”
The next day confirmed her fears.
“The bruising had darkened, it was really swollen and I was still in so much pain. I felt like I’d been punched, and I looked it too,” Sharon reveals.
“I was supposed to go to a party that night but I cancelled as I’d have had to wear sunglasses all night and everyone would have been talking about me.”
Sharon paid £100 for a procedure that should have cost her thousands[/caption]
Although the pain didn’t last for longer than a few days, the other signs took longer, and Sharon is still aware of them to this day.
“The bruising didn’t just fade away. I was left with significant bruising and swelling which lasted for months. Once the swelling finally went down, I noticed patches of pigmentation that weren’t fading.
“After seeing a medical professional, I was told I had post-inflammatory pigmentation, which could last a lifetime unless treated by a specialist.
5 Tweakment Red Flags
Amish Patel, Award-Winning Aesthetics Practitioner, Skincare Expert at Intrigue Cosmetic Clinic shared his 5 red flags with Fabulous.
1. Cheap is not-so-cheerful
If you are searching for ‘cheap Botox’, cheap is often cheap for a reason. Botulinum toxin is a prescription medication, only to be carried out by the medical professional prescribing the drug. Cheap prices mean that corners are being cut.
2. ‘Filler packages’
And always have a consultation BEFORE committing to any treatment. Your face is unique & what suits one face might not suit yours.
3. ‘Botox parties’
If a clinic is offering ‘Botox parties’ avoid: alcohol and partying with friends do not mix with a medical aesthetics procedure.
4. Dirty clinics
Where do they do their treatments? Is it a clean and clinical environment? Hygiene and client safety is paramount. As with all injectables, there is potential for infection in contaminated surroundings.
5. Two-for-one deals
Don’t be tempted by ‘share with a friend’ filler deals. Filler syringes are single-use only; changing the needle does not protect from cross-contamination.
“I am now months down the line trying to fix my mistake with expensive prescribed creams.
“I had a job interview two days after the procedure and I had to walk in with one black eye. I told them, ‘I haven’t been beaten up, it was a treatment gone wrong. I didn’t get the job, and I couldn’t help but feel my appearance played a part.”
Experts say Sharon’s story is far from unique.
With the rise of counterfeit devices, unregulated practitioners, and misleading marketing, bargain beauty procedures are leaving more and more patients scarred.
“The influx of counterfeit medical and cosmetic products isn’t just a regulatory problem, it’s a public safety crisis,” says Antonia Mariconda, Founder of The Safety in Beauty Campaign.
“Unsuspecting consumers are being exposed to harmful substances, while ethical practitioners are forced to operate in a climate of increasing suspicion and legal vulnerability.”
If something feels off, walk away. Your face isn’t worth the gamble.
Sharon
Patients are often lured in by familiar-sounding names and slick before-and-after pictures.
In some cases, images are stolen directly from official marketing materials, giving the impression of legitimacy.
But the devices used in copycat procedures have no clinical safety data and can be completely untraceable.
Dr Priya Verma, a registered ENDOLIFTX® practitioner and award-winning aesthetic doctor at PHI Clinic in Harley Street, stresses the importance of checking credentials.
Sharon is urging others to be wary of cheap procedures[/caption]
“Only approved devices have undergone proper safety testing.
Counterfeit machines may look similar but they’re not the same and they can leave patients permanently scarred.”
For Sharon, she’s not been totally put off tweakments but will be more cautious in future.
“I’ve seen amazing results from the genuine EndoliftX procedure, and it’s such a shame counterfeit devices are allowed when they cause such harm,” she says. “I probably would still have other treatments, but only with someone I trust completely.
“This experience has taught me how dangerous unregulated beauty treatments can be.
“I don’t want anyone else to learn the same lesson the hard way.”
Her advice to others is blunt: “Don’t be tempted by cheap prices – they’re cheap for a reason.
“It’s not just about a treatment not working, it’s about the very real risk of lasting harm.
“Research the device, check that the clinic is regulated, and make sure the practitioner is properly trained.
“If something feels off, walk away. Your face isn’t worth the gamble.”
