BABTAC warns about the dangers of ‘skinny injections’

Ahead of BBC Three’s documentary “The Skinny Jab Uncovered”, BBC News has shared details of an undercover investigation into beauty practitioners illegally selling semaglutide or knock-off alternatives, nicknamed ‘skinny injections’ to customers, despite not being medical professionals.

After an increase in celebrities showing dramatic weight loss before and afters, awareness of weight loss injections appears to have spiked, with Google searches for “semaglutide injection price” increasing by 140%+ in the past 90 days, in the UK alone, according to Google Trends data captured across 90 days.

Following a warning by the MHRA of “fake, potentially harmful” weight loss pens found in the UK, the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) has warned of the dangers of illegally obtaining the drug.

BABTAC chief executive and chair Lesley Blair MBE says: “As consumer interest has shifted to become more open-minded to non-surgical procedures and injectables, it’s easy to see why customers may become desensitised to treatments offered via injections. 

“However, it is likely that they are not asking important questions, such as whether the individual is a medical professional, or even legally allowed to prescribe the drug,” continues Blair. “ This, coupled with the reality that those seeking a weight loss drug may feel it is their only option, can expose potentially vulnerable clients to dangerous consequences.

“With the lack of regulation currently governing this industry, it can be confusing for customers to navigate, though it is worth noting that the UK law currently states that any product containing semaglutide should be offered via prescription only. While it may be potentially cheaper, or you might feel like you are getting more privacy by obtaining the drug online or from a beauty practitioner, it is simply not worth the risk of self-injecting a drug that has the potential to be mixed with unknown ingredients.”