A French court has sentenced two Ukrainian women for administering Botox injections illegally
A criminal court in Grasse, France, has convicted two Ukrainian women of illegal medical practice at a local beauty salon.
This was reported by the French publication Nice-Matin.
The defendants were a doctor and the salon’s manager, who had organized a network of cosmetic services without the necessary licenses and permits.
The investigation established that the Ukrainian women had set up an underground clinic in the back room of the salon in Villeneuve-Loubet in the summer of 2023.
During a surprise inspection, police discovered a significant number of syringes and medications of unknown origin. Officers noted that in a single room, clients were simultaneously receiving hair styling services and complex Botox injections.
“When the officers entered the salon, there was a great commotion,” the presiding judge described the course of the arrest.
According to law enforcement, approximately 900 clients used the Ukrainian women’s services, yet no official medical records of these procedures were kept.
The accused doctor explained in court that she holds a Ukrainian degree in cosmetic surgery and was driven to engage in illegal activities by the need to support her son with a disability.
The women sought clients for the dangerous procedures through the popular social media platforms Instagram and TikTok, bypassing France’s official healthcare system.
The judges emphasized that such activities pose a direct threat to public health.
“We are talking about people who can be disfigured by injections. Medicine deals with life and the body, and it is fortunate that a person must have authorization to perform any procedure,” representatives of the judiciary noted during the hearing.
Prosecutor Paul-Marie Ferri noted that the defendant was fortunate due to the absence of official complaints regarding disfigurement or complications.
“When I see that there are no victims at this hearing, you can consider yourself lucky that everything went well,” the prosecutor concluded.
Ultimately, the court sentenced both women to the same punishment—eight months of suspended imprisonment. Additionally, each of the Ukrainian women must pay a fine of €20,000.
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