The National Department of Health has expressed concern about the growing number of cosmetic and aesthetic procedures being performed outside SA’s regulated healthcare sector, warning that unsafe treatments could cause life-threatening complications. – TimesLive (30 June 2026)
Most of these procedures are carried out in environments that do not meet accepted medical standards, particularly when unregistered, counterfeit or illegally imported products are used.
Possible complications include serious infections, permanent scarring, disfigurement, tissue damage, tissue death, nerve injuries and severe allergic reactions. Certain facial filler procedures can also cause blindness if substances are injected incorrectly or enter a blood vessel.
Samples of products, many of them sold online or through social media, were sent to the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for testing and further investigation.
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