Health warning over beauty jabs using dead people’s skin following Hong Kong raids
Experts have warned of the infection risks associated with an anti-ageing beauty treatment known as “cadaver-derived skin injection” amid growing interest in the treatment, as authorities crack down on beauty premises offering services with unregistered products. The warnings came a day after the Department of Health revealed it had seized vials of an injectable product called Elravie Re20, which…
Experts have raised concerns about potential infection risks linked to a controversial beauty treatment called "cadaver-derived skin injection." This treatment, known as Elravie Re20, is derived from human tissue and has gained popularity in Hong Kong.
Recently, the Department of Health seized vials of the injectable product during raids on four beauty premises in the city. A 38-year-old woman was arrested during the operation. The product, which carries Korean packaging, is classified as a "regulated product" under the Human Organ Transplant Ordinance and a "pharmaceutical product."
The Korean distributor of Elravie Re20, Humedix, claims that the product contains human acellular dermal matrix, a material derived from processed human tissue. However, experts have cautioned that such products could pose unknown risks due to the presence of pathogens.
Dr. Peter Pang Chi-wang, a plastic surgery specialist, noted that while the product is labeled as acellular, meaning all cells have been removed, bacteria can still be present in cells. He also questioned the safety of the product since there is no proven evidence of its benefits.
Dermatologist Dr. Kingsley Chan Hau-ngai echoed similar concerns, warning of possible infection risks associated with unregistered injection products. He pointed out that cadavers are not always clean and that the storage conditions of the products could also harbor bacteria, fungi, or viruses.
The South China Morning Post reported that a reporter posing as a customer contacted a local medical beauty clinic, the Korean Aesthetic Surgery Centre Hong Kong, to inquire about the availability of the injection. The clinic stated that the product had not yet been approved by the government.
Dr. Fung Ying, controller of regulatory affairs at the Department of Health, emphasized that the product lacks clinical safety data and could pose public health risks. The trend of discussing the product on social media platforms has also been noted, with users in Hong Kong and Taiwan expressing their interest in the treatment.
Nelson Ip Sai-hung, founding chairman of the Federation of Beauty Industry, noted that discussion about Re20 had increased recently, with many people calling it magical. However, he mentioned that it was difficult to source the product and urged consumers to exercise caution when trying new beauty treatments. Ip emphasized that it is not unreasonable to observe a product before jumping on the bandwagon.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
