A series of illegal cosmetic treatments using unlicensed anti-wrinkle injections has left at least 28 women in northeast England seriously ill — some fighting for their lives — after being injected with a toxic Botox-type product called Toxpia.

Gemma Gray, the beautician behind the procedures, ran her business Belissimo Aesthetics from her home near Bishop Auckland and a salon in Blackhall, County Durham. She offered discounted “Botox” treatments for as little as £75, using the unapproved Toxpia, a South Korean botulinum toxin not licensed in the UK. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirms that selling or supplying it is a criminal offence.

Kaylie Bailey’s near-fatal reaction

Kaylie Bailey, 36, a mother-of-three from Peterlee, received the injections from Gray and was later hospitalised with botulism, a rare but life-threatening condition. Initially misdiagnosed with ptosis, Kaylie’s health deteriorated rapidly. She stopped breathing, had to be resuscitated, and spent three days in intensive care.

“I remember lying on the bed thinking, ‘I’m dying here and I don’t want to,'” she recalled tearfully. She now wears an eye patch and lives with the trauma of a treatment that nearly killed her.

Paula Harrison’s warning

Another victim, Paula Harrison, 54, became severely ill after under-eye and wrinkle treatments. She was also hospitalised and treated with an anti-toxin. “My throat was closing, and I couldn’t eat,” she said. “She’s playing with people’s lives. I could’ve been dead.”

The scale of the crisis

Hospitals in the region ran out of anti-toxin stocks due to the spike in botulism cases. The BBC has confirmed that a second aesthetic practitioner linked to Gray also administered Toxpia, causing illness in more clients.

Gray claimed the issue was a “nationwide problem” and that she was devastated, calling it a “trial treatment.” However, the BBC found no evidence supporting the claim of a national outbreak.

Investigation and official warning

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is leading an ongoing investigation. Authorities are warning people to verify that practitioners are qualified, insured, and using licensed medical products.

A government spokesperson said:

“People’s lives are being put at risk by inadequately trained operators. We urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to research their practitioner carefully.”

Gemma Gray has refused to comment publicly.