site.btaSofia Prosecutors Probe Unlicensed Botox Cases

Sofia Regional Prosecution Office (SRPO) has launched a criminal investigation into alleged unlicensed administration of botulinum toxin in the Bulgarian capital, SRPO said here on Thursday.

The investigation follows an SRPO inquiry into multiple reports of women who experienced adverse effects after receiving Botox injections.

According to SRPO, between an unspecified date in March 2024 and January 18, 2025, an individual posing as a plastic and aesthetic surgeon administered botulinum toxin in the forehead area of at least 20 women without holding the required medical qualification. 

On February 3, 2025 prosecutors launched a probe after media outlets reported that several women had sought medical treatment for complications linked to these procedures.

Investigators have gathered evidence from dozens of individuals and compiled a substantial number of documents.

More than 60 witnesses will be questioned as part of the pre-trial proceedings, and experts will analyse the botulinum toxin solutions used. Medical experts are also expected to examine at least five patients.

Twelve women have sought medical help at Pirogov Emergency Hospital in Sofia following these injections, said Maria Dimitrova, Head of the Neurology Department at Pirogov Emergency Hospital.

In response, Health Minister Silvi Kirilov ordered a full review of regulations governing aesthetic medicine, while the Interior Ministry and SRPO have taken official action on the case.

On February 3, at least eleven women reported adverse reactions following discounted Botox injections at two Sofia cosmetic centres, prompting an investigation by the Executive Agency for Medical Supervision (EAMS). Some of the patients experienced vision loss in one eye, drooping eyelids, and severe fatigue. The Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA) warns that insufficient regulatory oversight enables unqualified individuals to perform medical procedures, advising patients to verify providers’ credentials.