Botox clinic files for bankruptcy amid safety probe

The beauty clinic Nordicshape has filed for bankruptcy in Espoo, Finland, after becoming embroiled in a controversy surrounding patient safety. The company, Nordicshape Oy, submitted its bankruptcy petition to the Länsi-Uusimaa District Court on July 1. The clinic's CEO, Samuel Rossi, stated that the bankruptcy filing is intended solely to close the Espoo branch and terminate its lease agreement. Rossi confirmed that the Helsinki branch, run by a separate entity, Nordicshape Helsinki Oy, will continue its operations.

Earlier in April, Finland's regulatory authority, Valvira, suspended the Espoo clinic's operations due to serious patient safety concerns. An unannounced inspection on April 8 revealed unauthorized medications and products containing medicinal substances, such as local anesthetics, mislabeled as cosmetics. Valvira also held a strong suspicion that the clinic had used an unauthorized botulinum toxin product, though none was found during the inspection.

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The purpose of the voluntary bankruptcy is only to close the business and terminate the lease agreement.

Helsingin Sanomat previously reported, based on former employees' accounts and images, that the Espoo clinic may have administered an illegal Korean botulinum toxin, Elitox, to customers. Botulinum toxin is used for cosmetic purposes, such as wrinkle reduction. Rossi and Taina Heikkinen, the clinic's owner and lead nurse, have denied these allegations. However, Heikkinen admitted to administering Elitox to a staff member.

Following the inspection, a significant number of Nordicshape employees resigned. Rossi had previously told HS that the public attention caused considerable reputational damage to the company.

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The situation had caused a serious risk to patient safety.