A Houston woman’s unregulated lip filler procedure resulted in the arrest of an unlicensed injector, raising awareness about the dangers of illegal cosmetic practices.
Following a disastrous lip filler treatment that prompted a Houston lady to seek treatment, 31-year-old Alegna Delgado James was arrested Monday night for practicing medicine without a license. Delgado James is accused of charging for unsupervised, illegal services while injecting unidentified drugs into consumers.
Speaking anonymously, the victim said she was attracted by ABS Aesthetic, a facility running without a mandated medical director, social media marketing. Delgado James supposedly showed her a Korean filler box for the $499 operation—later found to be a device sold for about $29.95 online. Investigators also discovered counterfeit Botox in the clinic.
Prosecutors said that although injectors don't require licenses, they have to work under the direction of licensed medical personnel. Allegedly ignoring this need, Delgado James put patient safety at risk.
Advising people to investigate providers, check packaging, and give licensed practitioners top priority, Dr. Richard LeConey of Houston's Antiage Institute cautioned that the impact of social media on cosmetic trends has resulted in an increase in risky operations and the usage of fake items.
Emphasizing the need for expert control in the expanding cosmetic business, Dr. LeConey added, "Some fake products can cause irreversible damage."
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