A woman has sent out an urgent warning after fighting a rare infection following a cosmetic procedure that went terribly wrong.
Beatriz 'Bea' Amma, from Miami, US, described the pain as 'fire spreading through her body' after buying some 'fat-dissolving' shots as an early birthday treat.
The social media influencer underwent the procedure at an unlicensed medical spa in California.
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Bea signed up for the shots after the spa got in contact with her over Instagram, pushing an 'amazing compound' that consisted of B12 and deoxycholic acid.
But now, she has been left with health issues and a huge dent in her bank account after trying to fight the horrid infection she contracted.
The influencer, who has over 93,000 followers on Instagram, revealed: "I first tried B12 shots when I started a sales job, and they made me feel amazing. Maybe it was a placebo, maybe it was real - I'm not entirely sure."
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She spoke about recently moving to Los Angeles and 'working nonstop', thinking that the solution might have been an energy boost, as she tried to make it as a fitness and bikini model, as she highlighted: "My appearance meant everything."
"The med spa's Instagram was filled with impressive before-and-after shots. Everything looked so legit," Bea recalled.
"They had a nice setup, clean space, and certificates on the wall (that I later found out were fake). They DM'd me, and it seemed like a win-win. I could vlog the process for my followers, get referral credits, and feel better about myself at the same time."
After going in for the injections, it took less than 24 hours before feeling awful side effects, such as chills, a fever and 'intense brain fog'.
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First attributing it to her immune system, a date the following night had to be cut short after she fell ill, explaining: "On the drive home, I was just shaking, like I was about to pass out. I felt really strange."
But after wrapping up and taking ibuprofen, the injection sites began to swell and inflict pain on her.
"It felt like fire spreading through my body. My skin thinned out and then split open, hour by hour," she revealed, as doctors at the ER said that 'it's not necrosis', referring her to a dermatologist. "Meanwhile, my skin was literally bursting open."
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Trying to get in touch with the med spa, they ignored her for a while, before getting back to her with hostility. They called her a 'pain in their a**' and said it was an allergic reaction and not their fault, as she threatened to sue.
Bea further claimed that they offered her $800 (£630) if she agreed not to sue, a mere fraction of the cost of her treatments.
After dermatologists prescribed antibiotics and steroids, she became bedridden alone after just moving to LA.
Luckily, a newly found co-worker took her in with her family, cooked for her and helped her shower and get dressed.
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'My arms were completely open wounds, my back was splitting, and my skin on stomach started reacting the same way," Bea remembered.
She even spent four months in hospital, undergoing an IV antibiotic regimen, but her skin kept bursting open, while her joints became severely inflamed, leaving her immobile.
Finally, after several tests, doctors said the cause of the infection was due to contaminated vials used at the med spa.
Bea thinks that it must have spread to inflict that level of pain, while revealing that she racked up millions in medical bills, currently paying $17,000 (£13,400) a week, beyond her insurance coverage.
The influencer highlighted: "My outpatient costs alone are over $70,000 (£55,000). I get notices and bills every week, but I can't look at the totals anymore. I make the minimum payment just to avoid collections, but that's all I can do."
Unfortunately, an attempt to bring a lawsuit to the spa fell short, as it was discovered that the spa didn't have any insurance as 'there was no money to be recovered'.
Sharing her story on social media, she has warned others to be wary of the lack of regulation with some cosmetic procedures.
She highlighted that she was tricked through social media and upsold during her visit, despite no doctor being on site.
"It's scary to think people are getting counterfeit products or being treated by unqualified staff. If there's no doctor present, walk away," she advised. "But even then, how do you know they're legit? These businesses are fooling people every day, and it has to stop."
Topics: Health, Social Media, Instagram, US News
Joshua Nair