Public Urged To Caution Cosmetic Injections

Cosmetic Injections

The North Carolina Division of Public Health is warning consumers to be careful when it comes to cosmetic injections. This warning follows an investigation into three cases of kidney failure among women who received injections at a Greensboro clinic.

The Division of Public Health, the Guilford County Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies began an investigation into Altmed of the Triad, Inc on December 27 after receiving word that three women from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Illinois developed kidney failure after getting injections at the clinic. Two of the women still need dialysis. The injections were intended to augment the buttocks.

On December 28, local public health officials issued an order stopping the clinic from providing injections for augmentation. That order was amended on January 4 to prevent the clinic from providing injections of any kind. The type of product used in these cases and the specific cause of kidney failure are still under investigation. All information collected so far suggests that the injections were given without the supervision of a medical doctor.

"People need to be very careful when they are considering cosmetic injections," said Dr. Jeff Engel, North Carolina State Epidemiologist. "We recommend that consumers ask if the person offering these injections is a licensed doctor or supervised by a licensed doctor who is trained in these procedures. Talk with that doctor and check out his or her history before getting any injections."

Anyone who experiences health problems after having a cosmetic injection should contact his or her doctor right away.