Cosmetic injectables market growing, despite data on illicit treatments in the supply chain
In the report, titled Black Market Cosmetic Injectables in the US 2005–2013, the groups show that 46 people in 16 states have been prosecuted for allegedly buying or selling non-FDA approved cosmetic drugs intended to be passed off as injectable cosmetic treatments.
And since 2012, the report indicates that 700+ doctors have been informed that they may have bought drugs that were not FDA approved.
One person reportedly died and 11 others “sought medical treatment for disfigurement or serious illness brought on by these black market injections.”
The bigger picture
The Black Market for Cosmetic Injectables numbers and cases that may look dire. But the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported earlier this year that over 13.4m minimally invasive procedures took place in 2013, that includes 6.3m Botulinum toxin type A injections. And, that figure is up 3% from the previous year.
Beyond the US
Illicit product is a concern outside the US too. The legitimate market in South America is forecast to reach $300m by 2021, according to spaprofessionals.com.
“However, the widespread availability of illegally manufactured products will limit the market to some extent,” said Millennium Research Group analyst Kristina Vidug, according to that site.
“These unapproved products may pose significant health risks, and reports of adverse events will act as a deterrent to patients seeking facial injectable treatments.”
As a category
“There are essentially three levels of how skin care concerns can be addressed on a professional basis – with topical products purchased at a spa or from a doctor, using an at-home device, or having an in-office treatment performed using a laser, IPL, or injectable,” explained Karen Doskow, industry manager at Kline’s Consumer Products Practice in a report on aesthetics out this time last year.
Injectables are an important segment in the skin care market, with products like Botox and dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm and Radiesse, motivating the continued growth in aesthetic treatments.
