An aspiring bikini model was forced to battle a rare flesh-eating infection after treating herself to a series of fat-dissolving injections as an early birthday present.
Bea Amma, 23, of Miami, saw her “skin burst open” and said she felt like “fire spreading through her body after undergoing the cosmetic procedure at an unlicensed medical spa in California.”
Doctors said he had contracted a drug-resistant mycobacteria that was spread through contaminated vials at the clinic.
Bea signed up to receive the injections after the medical spa reached out to her on Instagram, promoting what they called an ‘amazing compound’ of B12 and deoxycholic acid.
But now she’s in debt and has racked up thousands of dollars in medical bills trying to fight the horrible infection.
‘I first tried B12 injections when I started working in sales and they made me feel amazing. Maybe it was a placebo, maybe it was real; I’m not entirely sure, Bea recalled.
‘But I had just moved to Los Angeles, was working non-stop and thought a boost of energy might help. Then this medical spa took to Instagram and promoted what they called an “amazing compound” of B12 and deoxycholic acid.
“At the time, I was really focused on making it as a fitness and bikini model, so my appearance meant everything.”
Bea Amma, 23, of Miami (pictured) saw her “skin burst open” and said she felt like “fire was spreading through her body after undergoing the cosmetic procedure at a medical spa in California” .
Bea, pictured before infection, is an aspiring bikini and fitness model from Miami.
Pictured: Bea receiving treatment after she was left battling drug-resistant mycobacteria.
Bea continued: ‘The medical spa’s Instagram was full of stunning before and after photos. “It all seemed so legit.”
‘They had a nice setup, a clean space and certificates on the wall (which I later found out were fake). They texted me and it seemed like a win-win. I could vlog the process for my followers, get referral credit, and feel better about myself at the same time.’
Bea made an appointment and went to get the injections, but less than a day later she started experiencing horrible side effects.
‘Within 24 hours, I had extreme chills, fever and intense mental confusion. I thought maybe my immune system was just weakened; At first I didn’t think it was anything serious,” he said.
The next night, he went on a date but had to leave early because he felt sick.
‘On the way home, I was shaking, like I was about to faint. I felt really strange.
“Thankfully, I went back to my study, wrapped myself in blankets, turned on the heat and took ibuprofen to try to bring the fever down.”
As the fever subsided, the injection sites began to swell, harden, and burn.
‘I felt like fire was spreading through my body. “My skin thinned and then opened, hour after hour,” she said.
‘I was in so much pain that I went to the emergency room, but the doctors were perplexed. They told me, “Well, it’s not necrosis. You’ll have to see a dermatologist.” Meanwhile, my skin was literally bursting.’
Bea, pictured after contracting the infection, is now looking to reform the cosmetics industry.
The 23-year-old underwent a regimen of intravenous antibiotics and spent four months in hospital, but her skin continued to break open.
Bea said the places where she received the injections began to harden and burn.
What are mycobacteria?
Mycobacteria are a type of germ and there are many different ones.
The most common mycobacteria causes tuberculosis.
Bea’s infection, which was a rare type of germ, was transmitted through contaminated vials.
It caused swelling, hardening and burning sensation at the injection sites.
He said his skin then thinned and opened.
In the photo: the mycobacteria that causes tuberculosis.
Bea then contacted the medical spa, but was ignored for days. When they finally responded, she said they were hostile.
“They cursed me, called me ‘a pain in the ass,’ and said, ‘Good luck suing us.’ It’s just an allergic reaction, not our fault.”
The spa owner even offered her $800 (£630) if she signed a document promising not to sue, Bea claimed.
“I couldn’t believe such audacity,” said the 23-year-old.
Desperate for answers, Bea met with two different dermatologists. He was prescribed antibiotics and steroids, but nothing worked. She became bedridden and could barely move.
“I was new to Los Angeles, I didn’t have family nearby, and a coworker who had only known me for a month took me in. She told me, ‘You’re coming to live with me and my family because I’m afraid you’re going to die alone.'” “.
‘She did everything for me. She cooked for me, helped me shower and get dressed.
“My arms were completely open wounds, my back was splitting and the skin on my stomach started to react the same way.”
One night, the situation got so bad that she was rushed to the hospital at 3 a.m., and Bea said she didn’t think she would make it through the night.
He underwent a regimen of intravenous antibiotics and spent four months in the hospital, but his skin continued to break open.
‘My joints were so swollen that I couldn’t move my fingers, bend my knees or even lift my arms. I was completely dependent on the nurses. The isolation was overwhelming.
‘One morning, I found an art set abandoned on my table. I still don’t know who left it, but that art set saved me. “It gave me a way to channel my pain into something I could control,” she recalled.
After multiple tests, doctors determined that the infection had spread due to contaminated vials.
Bea, pictured receiving treatment, described having open wounds all over her body.
Bea also faced setbacks when trying to sue the spa for compensation.
The 23-year-old girl receives medical treatment to combat her infection.
‘There was so much infection in my body that it couldn’t just come from the injection materials. The diffusion of each site showed that the vials must have been contaminated,’ explained Bea.
The costs of his treatment were staggering, racking up millions in medical bills, with ongoing expenses of $17,000 (£13,400) a week, far more than his insurance could cover.
‘My outpatient costs alone are over $70,000 (£55,000). I receive notices and invoices every week, but I can no longer look at the totals. “I make the minimum payment just to avoid charges, but it’s all I can do,” he added.
Bea also faced setbacks in attempting to file a lawsuit against the spa for compensation.
“I tried to file a lawsuit, but once the lawyers discovered that the spa didn’t have insurance, they dropped the case, saying there was no money to recover,” he said.
Without support from legal or medical authorities, Bea took to social media to share her story, hoping to raise awareness and warn others about the lack of regulation in the cosmetics industry.
‘A friend encouraged me to post my story on TikTok, even though I was terrified of the trial. But the response has been incredible. People tell me that seeing my story has inspired them to respect their bodies more, to take control of their own health,’ said Bea, who has 68.6 thousand followers.
‘What happened to me should not happen to anyone. These places promise quick solutions but operate without proper regulation. The spa I went to didn’t have a doctor, but they convinced me through social media and upsold me during my visit. I trusted them, but they were not medical professionals and faced no consequences.
‘It’s scary to think that people receive counterfeit products or are treated by unqualified personnel. If no doctor is present, walk away. But even then, how do you know they’re legit? “These companies deceive people every day and this has to stop.”