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Botulinum Toxins General Public Professionals
Regarding Fake Product Alerts – Maylips Announcement
Apr 19, 2024
Following the recent FDA announcement that counterfeit BOTOX® is in circulation, the Maylips team wishes to make an announcement.
Maylips ensures that every product sold on our online store is authentic and safe.
- We follow the GDP (Good Distribution Practice) to a T.
- All of our products are sourced either from authorized distributors or straight from the manufacturers.
Maylips only sells authentic products with original LOT numbers. We can provide the LOT number for every order our customers make, and we encourage you to contact us for confirmation.
Key Takeaways
- Careful examination of both the packaging and the product itself is crucial for detecting counterfeit items. At Maylips, every product sold, including those with packaging in foreign languages, is guaranteed to be authentic.
- Do not trust distributors whose history is obscured or non-existent and who do not accept transparent payment methods. Maylips has been selling cosmetic and aesthetic products since 2014.
- Should your patient encounter symptoms such as double vision, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, or any other adverse effects following treatment, it is recommended to thoroughly inspect your existing inventory of product.
Spotting Counterfeit Products
Here are some of the signs that the BOTOX® you have acquired may be counterfeit:
Counterfeit Product and Packaging
Here’s how you can determine counterfeit products by examining the packaging and the product itself:
- Mismatched language on packaging and vials can indicate counterfeiting
Counterfeiters may reuse packaging materials in various languages.
If the language on the outer packaging is not the same as the language on the inside packaging, that is a sign of a counterfeit product.
However, a product packaging in a different language does not necessarily mean it’s inauthentic.
Maylips offers genuine products sourced from official manufacturers for other jurisdictions, ensuring adherence to identical quality and approval standards. The only distinction lies in the language displayed on the packaging, differing from products intended for domestic markets.
- Missformated LOT Number
Incorrect formatting on the LOT number and the expiry date indicates an inauthentic product.. The FDA has issued a warning for BOTOX® packages with the lot number C3709C3.
Please contact Maylips to verify the LOT numbers for any product you purchased on our store.
- Holograms
Absence of holograms on the packaging or presence of multiple holograms can be indicative of an inauthentic product.
- The wrong active ingredient is displayed on the box
If the outer carton packaging of a BOTOX® unit indicates the active ingredient as ‘Botulinum Toxin Type A’ instead of ‘OnabotulinumtoxinA’, that signifies an inauthentic product.
Too Much Material in the Vial
Experienced medical professionals are aware that the interior of a BOTOX® vial may appear empty to the untrained eye. An unusually large quantity of substance within the vial may indicate an inauthentic product.
Additionally, instances of counterfeit products involve vials missing their tops.
The Non Existent BOTOX® 150u
Counterfeit products may be available in non-existent sizes and strengths. The FDA has specifically cautioned against BOTOX® 150u dosage.
Allergan Aesthetics / An AbbVie Company, the authorized manufacturer of BOTOX®, exclusively produces dose forms of 50u, 100u, and 200u.
Weight Difference
Counterfeiters are unable to precisely match the weight of the entire product. Therefore, if there is a discrepancy between the weights of two packages, it indicates that one of them is likely counterfeit.
Spotting Inauthentic Sellers
Here are some telltale signs you need to watch out for when it comes to inauthentic sellers:
- A new distributor with not verifiable history
A lack of online longevity for a distributor should raise immediate concerns.
Maylips has been operating in the online market for cosmetic and aesthetic products since 2014, establishing a track record of credibility and reliability.
- Distributors found on dubious platforms
Only trust sellers that steer clear of dubious market and ad platforms, lik Alibaba.
- Suspicious payment processing
Distributors who exclusively accept payments in cryptocurrency, direct wire transfers, or Western Union, while avoiding transparent and traceable methods like credit cards, should be approached with caution and suspicion of selling counterfeit products.
- No genuine customer reviews online
Difficulty in locating authentic customer reviews online serves as a warning sign to reconsider the authenticity of the seller.
Patient Consequences of Counterfeit Products
The FDA has issued a list of symptoms that indicate the use of inauthentic BOTOX®:
- blurred or double vision
- difficulty swallowing
- dry mouth
- constipation
- incontinence
- shortness of breath
- weakness
- difficulty lifting one’s head
If your patients report any of these symptoms after treatment, it’s crucial to refer them to a medical doctor for evaluation. Check the authenticity of your product immediately.
Book a meeting with Maylips today to access authentic products directly sourced from reputable manufacturers and trusted distributors.
References
- FDA Alert: Counterfeit Versions of Botox Found in Multiple States. Drugs.com. Accessed April 18, 2024. https://www.drugs.com/fda/counterfeit-versions-botox-found-multiple-states-14672.html
- CDC. CDC: Harmful reactions linked to botulinum toxin injections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published April 15, 2024. Accessed April 18, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/outbreaks/harmful-reactions-botox-injections.html
- Research C for DE and. Counterfeit Version of Botox Found in Multiple States. FDA. Published online 2024. Accessed April 18, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/counterfeit-version-botox-found-multiple-states