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. 2018 Aug;26(3):154-159.
doi: 10.1177/2292550318767432. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

"Saving Face": An Online Study of the Injecting Use of DIY Botox and Dermal Filler Kits

Rebekah Brennan  1 , John S G Wells  1 , Marieclaire Van Hout  2
Affiliations

"Saving Face": An Online Study of the Injecting Use of DIY Botox and Dermal Filler Kits

Rebekah Brennan et al. Plast Surg (Oakv). 2018 Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

This study reports on an empirically underdocumented practice in contemporary aesthetic enhancement culture, the self-injection of unregulated DIY Botox and dermal filler kits purchased online. Data were collected from 4 online discussion forums containing disclosures in relation to use of DIY kits and analyzed using ethnographic content analysis. Motivation to source DIY Botox and dermal fillers online was grounded in desire to avoid financial cost of professional services and a lack of confidence in practitioners. Future intentions to order online raw materials and "formulas" to prepare dermal fillers at home were expressed. Individuals taught themselves to inject through watching YouTube tutorials and downloading Botox injection maps from the Internet. Although individuals demonstrated awareness of the health risks involved with self-injection of unregulated products, this was not a deterrent. Future research is warranted to document the injecting practices and health outcomes of individuals who inject DIY Botox and dermal filler kits to inform targeted harm reduction interventions by health-care practitioners.

La présente étude rend compte d’une pratique empirique sous-attestée dans la culture de l’esthétique corporelle contemporaine, l’auto-injection de Botox non réglementé et l’utilisation de trousses de remplissage dermique après des achats en ligne. Les chercheurs ont compilé les données à partir de quatre forums de discussion en ligne où les usagers affirmaient utiliser des trousses personnelles, puis les ont évaluées à partir de l’analyse du contenu ethnographique (Krippendorf, 2004). La motivation pour utiliser soi-même le Botox et le remplissage dermique provenait d’un désir d’éviter les coûts des services professionnels et d’un manque de confiance envers les praticiens. Les usagers exprimaient l’intention de commander les produits bruts et les « formules » en ligne afin de préparer des solutions de remplissage dermique à la maison. Ils apprenaient à se faire les injections en regardant des tutorats sur YouTube et en téléchargeant des diagrammes d’injection de Botox trouvés dans Internet. Même s’ils connaissaient les risques pour leur santé liés à l’auto-injection des produits non réglementés, ils ne les considéraient pas comme des éléments dissuasifs. D’autres recherches s’imposent pour répertorier les pratiques d’injection et les résultats cliniques des personnes qui s’injectent du Botox et qui utilisent des trousses de remplissage dermique afin d’orienter les interventions ciblées de réduction des risques qu’adopteront les professionnels de la santé.

Keywords: Botox; Internet; aesthetic enhancement; dermal filler; injecting.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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