Is it legal to inject Botox at a spa or fitness centres in Dubai?

The growing plastic and cosmetic surgery demand, along with non-surgical rejuvenating treatments in Dubai reflects the growing economy in the region. There are more and more women, and fewer men, who want to try the so much discussed botox, but are not certain if these procedures are easy to find.

The business of beauty salons and all sorts of spas is booming in Dubai in recent years. Treatments such as laser hair removal and Botox injections are openly discussed. More and more women experiment bravely on their faces and their husbands wallets. As a matter of fact, promotional emails from the countless local deals and coupons websites bombard us daily with half price offers for Botox injections from some salons and fitness centres.

Hang on, is it legal to inject Botox at spas and ordinary fitness centers, or it has to be done only in professional clinics by licensed doctors?

Since 2002 when the Food and Drug Administration in the United States approved Botox for cosmetic use, it has become the most popular cosmetic procedure in the world. However, because of the unsupervised treatments in the past, there were reported side effects and dangerous complications. After all, Botox is made from Botulinum Toxin, a bacteria protein which causes food poisoning and muscle relaxing, and achieves smoothing of the skin wrinkles for three to nine months.

Beauty salons, spas and others cannot offer Botox injections in Dubai. Only beauty and skin-care clinics’ practitioners are allowed to inject both Botox and henna, if they are registered and licensed by the Dubai Health Authority. Currently in Dubai there are several clinics and licensed professionals who provide procedures done, or at least supervised, by doctors. Even if during the procedure there is only a nurse, make sure you have visited a doctor beforehand. Don’t ever trust people who promise they will make you young with Botox at a lower price, or in hair salons, fitness centers or regular spas.

Of course, there are people who even offer illegal Botox in Dubai, but the Anti-Economic Crimes Division at the Dubai Police has been dealing with crimes such as this for several years. The Police say such illegal medical procedures put the lives of customers at great risk, so people should be aware of low-cost, strange-looking “doctors”.