16 people hospitalized after Botox: 3 in intensive care, criminal complaint filed

Sixteen people presented to Ankara University Hospital over the past three months with complaints of difficulty swallowing, muscle paralysis, and breathing difficulties following Botox injections; some patients were placed on ventilators while three remain under intensive care observation.

Seven patients admitted to the neurology clinic in the past week have been reported as criminal cases. Prof. Dr. Ebru Apaydın Doğan, neurology specialist at Ankara University Hospital, stated: "We have had 16 patients in the past three months; they came with severe conditions."

Victim F.F. reported that approximately 20 days ago at the clinic, the procedure was performed by the secretary instead of the doctor. F.F. noted that after the procedure the eyelid drooped, followed by difficulty swallowing, and warned others: "Make sure you have this procedure done by specialists only."

Investigations are ongoing into where the patients received Botox and from whom. In Turkey, cosmetic Botox application can only be performed by physicians with medical credentials; however, regulatory gaps allowing unlicensed applications have been repeatedly flagged, and in 2023, a similar poisoning wave resulted in eight patients receiving treatment in Istanbul. As the prosecutor's investigation continues, experts have reiterated their warnings against unlicensed practitioners.