‘Extremely dangerous’: Graphic DIY cosmetic videos, tips circulate online

Untrained “home surgeons” are using an underground YouTube community and a private Facebook group to share tips on what needles to buy and how to insert them. WARNING: Graphic

Unqualified bloggers coaching Australians in “extremely dangerous” do-it-yourself cosmetic surgery videos have horrified medical authorities who fear someone could die if they follow the online tutorials.

The Daily Telegraph has uncovered a YouTube community and private Facebook group where untrained members give instructions and share tips on what needles, threads and injections are needed to perform dangerous surgeries at home.

The films show viewers how to insert the needles and even coach them on how to access the materials without proper qualifications.

The peak body for plastic surgeons said the unregulated behaviour risked “permanent injury or death”.

Youtuber Chloe Pickard aka 'Chloe Skin Deep' films herself performing DIY needle thread lifts, botox and other cosmetic procedures from home.

Clip of Youtuber Chloe Pickard performing cosmetic procedures from her home. She tells viewers the videos are for entertainment purposes only. Picture: Youtube.

Two bloggers, Chloe “Skin Deep” Pickard and “Anti-Ageing Aussie” Linda Larkin, who perform explicit facelift tutorials on YouTube with a needle and thread and inject plumping fillers without being qualified, tell viewers their content is purely for “entertainment”, while explaining how to copy them.

Thread lifts can cause deformity if inserted incorrectly. Only authorised registered health practitioners can administer fillers in Australia after years of study and training.

“I’m actually really excited and really scared to film this video, and do what I’m about to do. I’m about to use the ultimate big daddy of threads, it doesn’t get any bigger than this when doing them at home,” Ms Pickard says at the start of one of her videos.

It shows the Melbourne woman sitting in her bedroom with blood smeared across her face as she forces a double-armed thread through her cheek with a needle.

She spruiks discount code “Chloe 10” for viewers to receive discounted appliances from South Korean cosmetic distributors Glamderma and Acecosm, of which she is an affiliate.

Chloe Pickard’s DIY procedures.

The blogger also earns cash as an Amazon influencer through her own online shop when people buy products she recommends, such as syringes and hyaluronic acid used for fillers.

Her Amazon shop bio states: “DIY beauty is my passion. I absolutely love being able to do things at home, such as threads, tox, mesotherapy, radio frequency etc for a fraction of the price ...”

Gold Coast woman Ms Larkin, 40, tells viewers she is a lawyer who is documenting her ageing journey.

In one video, Ms Larkin speaks about how she has hit a vein under her eye with a needle “a few times”.

Ms Larkin told The Daily Telegraph she was not responsible for what others did to their bodies and most of her viewers were already performing procedures on themselves.

“I am concerned someone might injure themselves while performing these type of procedures but I can’t be held responsible for what someone does to their own body,” she said.

‘I was scarred’... Big Brother's Tilly Whitfield. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Big Brother beauty Tilly Whitfield's face has black scarring more than a year after she tried to inject her own tattoo freckles after watching a TikTok tutorial. Picture: Supplied,

“When I started these videos, I noticed the lack of transparency from YouTubers who didn’t disclose when things go wrong.

“I was very open and transparent when I stuffed up so others wouldn’t make the same mistakes I made.”

Ms Larkin said unlike other bloggers she did not receive any profits from her channel, nor was she an affiliate of any thread company.

Big Brother Australia beauty Tilly Whitfield is still trying to reverse scarring on her face from when she tried to tattoo cheek freckles more than a year ago.

The 2021 contestant copied a Tik Tok trend in August 2020 before the show, but temporarily lost her eyesight after an infection caused her face to swell up.

“I wanted it for Big Brother and saw videos saying it was cheaper and easier to do it at home. But oh how wrong I was,” Ms Whitfield, 21, said.

Big Brother Australia beauty Tilly Whitfield is

still trying to reverse scarring on her face

The social media star with 100,000 Instagram followers copied tutorials on YouTube after she was unable to find the original video she saw on TikTok and ordered the ink for $8 from a Chinese seller on eBay.

“The needles you order online say they’re sanitised, but they presumably weren’t, and I guess that’s how it became infected,” she said.

“I was so embarrassed and didn’t want to go to the doctor, but I ended up going to hospital after I became really sick. I was so worried. I was throwing up and I was so ill.”

Aussie TikTok brow and lash beautician Amber Louise, who is also a Glamderma affiliate, posted a video to her 17,000 followers in September answering questions including: “Where can I buy filler, Botox and threads without being qualified?”

She responded: “Glamderma.com. Use my code ‘aclouise’ for a discount,” with a shushing face emoji.

Ms Louise does say in a video not to try injecting at home.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons president Dan Thompson described the tutorial videos as “astounding and unnerving”.

“I have never heard about this underground community of people treating themselves and sharing it online before,” he said.

“This unregulated behaviour is extremely dangerous and could cause serious permanent injury or death.

“What I saw of the procedures showed a disregard for sterile technique and produced a poor outcome.

“Doctors who inject these compounds need a high-level knowledge of anatomy to keep their patients safe from tissue loss and blindness.”

Mr Thompson said there was a legal loophole to buy and import medical equipment from overseas. Individuals can import a three-month supply of medical goods for personal use – including products which have not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration – but commercial importers need every device they import to be licenced.

Australasian College of Cosmetic Medicine general manager Jenny Vallance agreed that home procedures were dangerous.

Jenny Vallance, the general manager of the College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine, says the explosion of these kinds of videos is worrying. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“DIY injectable procedures are fraught with danger in unlicensed hands,” she said, adding it was important to undergo surgery in a licensed facility in case of a medical emergency.

“You could have an allergic reaction and your blood pressure drops immediately. It could be fatal,” she warned.

YouTube did not respond to questions but after The Daily Telegraph’s inquiry it removed Ms Pickard’s account and most videos from Ms Larkin’s account.

Ms Pickard has since made a new account called Chloe Skin Deep Continues.

She did not respond to questions. Neither did Ms Louise.

Amazon did not provide a comment.

The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission did not respond before deadline.