'I look like a monster': We meet a woman scarred for life by 'routine' chin filler
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When I met Maryum Mohammad, the skin on her chin was dead. To treat it, she’d been told by the aesthetics practitioner who injected her to drink a turmeric latte, take Viagra and massage her chin with a sex toy.
Hi, I’m Ellie Pitt, I’ve been investigating the UK aesthetics industry, known internationally as the ‘Wild West’ for cosmetic procedures, for nearly two years at ITV News.
Time and again, I’ve spoken to clients like Maryum who, often through tears, tell me that they just wanted to feel more confident when they went for their beauty appointment.
Instead, they’ve been left botched, scarred and struggling psychologically.
Conservative estimates suggests tens of thousands of people are suffering harm from unsafe practices each year.
Why is this happening? Put simply, because there are no laws in this country restricting who can do Botox and filler injections.
There’s a petition in Parliament calling for stricter rules and suggestions that doctors should oversee all non-surgical cosmetic procedures, to be able to deal with complications.
We are “urgently exploring” regulation of the sector, says the government.
But what of people like Maryum? She went for a routine annual session for filler to be injected into her chin to make it look more plump and full.
But as a private doctor later told her, filler had been injected directly into a blood vessel in her chin, stopping blood from circulating and making the skin tissue on her chin die.
She’s been told the healing process could take more than a year - and is waiting to find out if she’ll be scarred permanently. You can watch my latest report on ITVX or YouTube.
Trump’s first 100 days: Tariffs, turmoil and tumult
The overnight rally in Michigan was a celebration of his presidency surrounded by his ultra-loyalists, with ill-disguised contempt for his critics and those seeking to thwart his agenda, writes Correspondent Robert Moore.
100 days into his second term, and Donald Trump was surrounded by signs proclaiming this to be America's "Golden Age".
There is no question that this has been 100 days of turmoil and tumult. It is also striking that his grip on his party and his core supporters has never been stronger.
Watch our Talking Politics USA podcast as our correspondents and analysts predict what could happen in the next 100 days.
Plus:
Lethal legacy of the Vietnam War still claiming lives, 50 years on
In a week that marks 50 years since the end of the war in Vietnam - the so-called ‘Fall of Saigon’ - ITV News has watched a de-mining team searching for the lethal remnants of that conflict, which are still claiming lives all these years later.
Asia Correspondent Debi Edward witnessed one de-miner who had only gone a few paces before a familiar tone sounded on his metal detector.
They were working in Quang Tri province in southern Vietnam, the most bombed place on earth…
Also from ITV News:
Dealership selling used cars accused of stealing £740k from customers
An ITV News investigation into an Essex car dealership has found at least 50 people have been left without their cars or their money.
Over three months, we’ve spoken to dozens of customers of Happier Cars alleging the dealership had sold their vehicles for them but failed to pay them. Police in Essex and London are investigating and, despite exhaustive efforts, no one from Happier Cars has responded to requests for comment.
Watch Kaf Okpattah’s report on ITVX.
FA to ban trans women from women’s football
The Football Association has changed its longstanding inclusion policy on trans women footballers and will ban them from playing in the women’s game in England from next season.
The U-turn comes after legal advice following the recent Supreme Court judgment, which ruled that a woman is legally defined solely by her biological sex.
Listen to ITV News Sports Editor Steve Scott, who broke the story, on our What You Need To Know podcast…
'I flew' says boy who survived after being thrown from building in Israeli airstrike
Last week, Ali Faraj was one of six. Today he’s an only child. His siblings were killed in an Israeli air strike that sent him flying.
The six-year-old child was sitting on his father’s knee when the bomb destroyed the family’s high-floor apartment in Gaza City.
Senior International Correspondent John Irvine’s report can be found on our YouTube channel.
Also: Gaza children treated in London
Revealed: Scientists use living brain tissue in Alzheimer’s breakthrough
Scientists using living human brain tissue have shown for the first time how a toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s can stick to and damage the connections between brain cells.
Researchers at Edinburgh University hope the discoveries will allow them to hone in on drugs that have the best chance of preventing the loss of synapses, connections which allow the flow of messages between brain cells and are vital to healthy brain function.
ITV News Scotland Reporter Louise Scott has more here…
Out of Africa: Could the next Pope be Ghanaian?
Much against Western trends, there is a renewed appetite for religion here in Ghana, reports ITV News’ Rachel Townsend; it is capturing the hearts and minds of youth, and the number of faithful is on the rise. According to the Vatican, Africa now has the fastest-growing Roman Catholic population.
Yet never in the modern age has there been an African Pope. But could that be about to change as Ghanaian cardinal, Peter Turkson is among the frontrunners…
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'Bed bug bites and sleepless nights'
“It breaks my heart, I’m so scared that he’ll get bitten, and myself.”
Antonia Wall and her family have endured problem-after-problem since moving in to the property in Beckenham, south-east London.
The plumbing not working properly, an infestation of bed bugs and a lack of action by her supported housing provider are just a few of the issues to keep her awake. Watch ITV News London’s report on ITVX.
Shops selling illegal skin lightening products
An exclusive ITV Wales This Week investigation has found shops across South Wales selling skin lightening creams with an illegal and potentially harmful ingredient.
The products contain hydroquinone, a chemical that should only be prescribed by a doctor.
Undercover reporters discovered shops in Newport and Cardiff selling products American skincare company Clear Essence that list hydroquinone as an active ingredient. Clear Essence was asked for a response but did not provide one.
Catch up with Wales This Week: Skin Deep on ITVX.
See also: Teen scarred for life by sunbed
What’s coming up…
Sunday May 4: Happy Star Wars day!
Monday May 5: Sean Combs’ trial in New York to begin. The 54-year-old, known as Diddy, previously pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking
Tuesday May 6: The UK government’s flagship cyber security event, hosted by the National Cyber Security Centre, takes place in Manchester, with 2,000 cyber security leaders and professionals to attend
Thursday May 8: 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day - VE Day. Commemorations and celebration parties taking place up and down the country
And finally… ‘Seagull boy’ continues to fly high
Chasing the title of European gull screeching champion was a strictly family affair for 10-year-old Cooper Wallace.
His closest rival to defend the crown he won last year in Belgium was his younger sister, Shelby.
But it was big brother Cooper, from Chesterfield, who soared away with the title - you can watch how he did it on our TikTok.