An aspiring bikini model was left fighting a rare flesh-eating infection after she treated herself to a series of fat-dissolving shots as an early birthday present.
Bea Amma, 23, from Miami, saw her ‘skin burst open’ and said it felt like ‘fire spreading through her body’ after she had the cosmetic procedure at an unlicensed med spa in California.
Doctors said she had contracted a drug-resistant mycobacterium that spread through contaminated vials at the clinic.
Bea signed up for the shots after the med spa reached out to her on Instagram, promoting what they called an ‘amazing compound’ of B12 and deoxycholic acid.
But she is now in debt and has racked up thousands of dollars of medical bills trying to fight the horrific infection.
‘I first tried B12 shots when I started a sales job, and they made me feel amazing. Maybe it was a placebo, maybe it was real – I’m not entirely sure,’ Bea recalled.
‘But I’d just moved to Los Angeles, was working nonstop, and thought an energy boost might help. Then this med spa reached out on Instagram, promoting 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, from Miami, (pictured) saw her ‘skin burst open’ and said it felt like ‘fire spreading through her body after she had the cosmetic procedure at a med spa in California
Bea, pictured before the infection, is an aspiring bikini and fitness model from Miami
Pictured: Bea receiving treatment after she was left fighting a drug-resistant mycobacterium
Bea continued: ‘The med spa’s Instagram was filled with impressive before-and-after shots. Everything looked so legit.’
‘They had a nice setup, clean space, and certificates on the wall (that I later found out were fake). They DM’d me, and it seemed like a win-win. I could vlog the process for my followers, get referral credits, and feel better about myself at the same time.’
Bea scheduled an appointment and went in for the injections but less than a day later she started experiencing horrific side effects.
‘Within 24 hours, I had extreme chills, a fever, and this intense brain fog. I thought maybe my immune system was just down – I didn’t think it was anything serious at first,’ she said.
The following night, she went on a date but had to leave early because she felt sick.
‘On the drive home, I was just shaking, like I was about to pass out. I felt really strange.
‘Thankfully, I made it back to my studio, bundled myself in blankets, turned up the heater, and took ibuprofen to try to bring down the fever.’
While the fever subsided, the injection sites started swelling, hardening, and burning.
‘It felt like fire spreading through my body. My skin thinned out and then split open, hour by hour,’ she said.
‘I was in so much pain I went to the ER, but doctors were stumped. They told me, “Well, it’s not necrosis. You’ll have to see a dermatologist.” Meanwhile, my skin was literally bursting open.’
Bea, pictured after contracting the infection, is now seeking reform to the cosmetic industry
The 23-year-old underwent a IV antibiotic regimen and spent four months in hospital but her skin kept breaking open
Bea said the sites where she had the injections started hardening and burning
What are mycobacterium?
Mycobacterium are a type of germ and there are many different ones.
The most common mycobacterium causes tuberculosis.
Bea’s infection, which was a rare type of the germ, was spread through contaminated vials.
It caused swelling, hardening, and a burning sensation at the injection sites.
She said her skin then thinned and split open.
Pictured: The mycobacterium that causes tuberculosis
Bea then contacted the med spa, only to be ignored for days. When they finally responded, she said they were hostile.
‘They cursed at me, calling me a “pain in their a**’ and saying, “Good luck suing us. It’s just an allergic reaction, not our fault”.’
The spa’s owner even offered her $800 (£630) back if she signed a document promising not to sue, Bea claimed.
‘I couldn’t believe the audacity,’ The 23-year-old said.
Desperate for answers, Bea met with two different dermatologists. She was prescribed antibiotics and steroids, but nothing worked. She became bedridden, barely able to move.
‘I was new to LA, had no family around, and a coworker who’d only known me a month took me in. She said “You’re coming to live with me and my family because I’m scared you’re going to die alone”.
‘She did everything for me. She cooked me meals, helped me shower and helped me get dressed.
‘My arms were completely open wounds, my back was splitting, and my skin on stomach started reacting the same way.’
One night, the situation became so bad she was rushed to hospital at 3am, with Bea saying she didn’t think she would make it through the night.
She underwent a IV antibiotic regimen and spent four months in hospital but her skin kept breaking open.
‘My joints were so inflamed I couldn’t move my fingers, bend my knees, or even lift my arms. I was entirely dependent on the nurses. The isolation was overwhelming.
‘One morning, I found an art set left 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 having treatment, described having open wounds all over her body
Bea also faced setbacks when trying to bring a lawsuit against the spa to gain compensation
The 23-year-old pictured receiving medical treatment to fight her infection
‘There was so much infection in my body it couldn’t have come just from the injection materials. The spread from each site showed the vials must have been contaminated,’ Bea explained.
Her treatment costs were staggering, racking up millions in medical bills, with ongoing expenses of $17,000 (£13,400) a week – far beyond what her insurance could cover.
‘My outpatient costs alone are over $70,000 (£55,000). I get notices and bills every week, but I can’t look at the totals anymore. I make the minimum payment just to avoid collections, but that’s all I can do,’ she added.
Bea also faced setbacks when trying to bring a lawsuit against the spa to gain compensation.
‘I tried to pursue a lawsuit, but once lawyers found out the spa didn’t have insurance, they dropped the case, saying there was no money to be recovered,’ she said.
With no support from legal or medical authorities, Bea turned to social media to share her story, hoping to raise awareness and warn others about the lack of regulation in the cosmetic industry.
‘A friend encouraged me to post my story on TikTok, even though I was terrified of judgment. 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,’ noted Bea, who has 68.6k followers.
‘What happened to me shouldn’t happen to anyone. These places promise quick fixes but operate without proper regulation. The spa I went to didn’t have a doctor on-site, but they convinced me through social media and upsold me during my visit. I trusted them, but they weren’t medical professionals and faced no consequences.
‘It’s scary to think people are getting counterfeit products or being treated by unqualified staff. If there’s no doctor present, walk away. But even then, how do you know they’re legit? These businesses are fooling people every day, and it has to stop.’
