The arrival of highly effective weight loss injections like Mounjaro, Wegovy and previously Ozempic, has been a game-changer, offering a new pathway for managing weight.
At Cosmetic Perfection in Wirral, we believe in supporting your journey with the safest, most effective, and fully regulated care.
However, as these treatments gain popularity, a dangerous threat has emerged: fake, illicit weightloss jabs circulating across the UK.
The hidden danger of counterfeit injections
The threat of counterfeit medication is very real, and it is a major health risk. Regulatory bodies, including the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have issued strong warnings after fake ‘skinny jab’ pens purporting to contain popular weight loss drugs were found in circulation.
These counterfeit products are sold illegally, very often online or via social media. The contents of these fake pens are completely unregulated and as such could contain unsafe, unknown, incorrect or ineffective ingredients.
What could go wrong:
Investigations have found that products sold as genuine prescription drugs, such as semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), often do not contain the active ingredient at all, or worse, contain harmful substances like pure insulin, banned substances like sibutramine, or bacteria due to unsterile conditions.
- Unsterile manufacturing conditions: These counterfeit products are manufactured in unhygienic environments, not sterile labs, leading to contamination risks and potential infections such as a bacterial abscess and ultimately sepsis, which can be fatal.
- Incorrect dosage: Even if the correct active ingredient is present, the dosage is unregulated and potentially life-threatening.
- Lack of medical supervision: Prescription weight loss medicines require ongoing medical supervision to manage potential side effects (e.g., nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate) and ensure safety. Products purchased illegally do not include this essential “wraparound care”.
- Criminal operations: The trade in fake weight loss drugs is run by organised crime gangs who prioritise profit over public safety.
- Re-labelled insulin: Insulin injector pens are readily available and are often relabelled as a weight loss medication. Injecting too much insulin, which is ANY insulin if you are not diabetic, can lead to a ‘diabetic coma’ which can be fatal.
- Ineffectiveness: If you are lucky they may just have no active ingredients at all and you have simply given your money to criminals.
- Unknown and potentially toxic ingredients: The criminals may be using medicines that are illegal in the UK, which will be for a very good reason.
Always trust the registration: CQC and GPhC are your guards
The only way to guarantee the authenticity, quality, and safety of your weight loss treatment is to receive it from a legitimate, regulated prescriber operating within a CQC-registered clinic.
1. Choose CQC-registered clinics
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is England’s independent regulator of health and social care. Choosing a CQC-registered clinic, like Cosmetic Perfection, means the facility, staff, and procedures are routinely inspected against strict standards of safety, effectiveness, and patient-centered care. If a clinic or prescriber cannot demonstrate CQC registration, you are putting your health at risk.
2. Check the pharmacy and prescriber
In the UK, all prescription weight loss injections are prescription-only medicines (POMs). They require a face-to-face or remote consultation with a qualified healthcare professional who can assess your medical history.
Here is a list of essential steps for safe purchasing, based on guidance from consumer experts:
- Use the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) guide to check that any online pharmacy you use is registered and safe. Look for the official registered pharmacy logo and verify the registration number on the GPhC website.
- Consult the MHRA guidance for accessing Wegovy and other weight loss drugs to understand the legal and safe pathways.
- Stick to large, established pharmacies (e.g., Asda Online Doctor, Boots Online Doctor, Superdrug Online Doctor) or CQC-registered clinics with a proven prescribing track record.
- Ensure the service offers free, ongoing support, including diet and exercise management advice and access to a prescriber for check-ups.
- If you suspect you’ve had a side effect or that the product is not genuine, report it immediately to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Safety at Cosmetic Perfection in Wirral
We are a CQC-registered clinic dedicated to providing safe, effective, and fully supported medical weight management. We are authorised to prescribe Mounjaro (tirzepatide), one of the leading medications for weight loss.
When you choose us, you receive:
- A thorough consultation with our qualified, CQC-registered prescribers.
- Guaranteed, authentic, and safely dispensed medication.
- 1-2-1 guidance throughout your entire weight loss programme, ensuring you are supported at every stage.
Contact us today to find out more.