The death of Giorgos Mazonakis was not merely a case that shocked us. It was the catalyst for opening a discussion about centres that carry out questionable practices in the name of “medicine”, “wellness” and aesthetics. The frightening thing is not that these practices also occur in Cyprus, but how normalised they have become in the minds of citizens rather than being questioned. With the assistance of the scientific medical community, Politis records the reality behind the glossy shop windows that promise “miraculous” treatments.
“The problem is real and is not confined to a single sector,” Dr Margarita Mavrogeni, a member of the board of the Cyprus Dermatological and Venereological Society, told Politis. The situation is made more difficult because complaints against these centres “do not easily reach” bodies such as the Cyprus Medical Association (PIS), the Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations (OSAK), or even the Ministry of Health, which has the legal authority to carry out oversight. Mainly because few people are willing to admit they paid dearly for something that was not what it claimed to be.
Liver damage included
Dr Giorgos Miltiadous, chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Cyprus Medical Association, noted that the medical community is aware of products being circulated through the internet or centres without approved indications for the uses being advertised. These include preparations promising increased muscle mass, rapid weight loss, anti-ageing effects or increased energy without scientific evidence.
The consequences, he explained, can be serious, as cases of severe liver damage linked to such products have emerged. In most cases the problem is reversible, but there are instances in which the consequences are particularly severe.
Charlatanism
Apart from products, an increasing number of questionable “alternative” practices are being presented as medical and therapeutic. “There is only one medicine,” Dr Miltiadous stressed, and it is the medicine that “is based on scientific studies, evidence, guidelines and documented results” and speaks in terms of probabilities. The longevity and anti-ageing trade, by contrast, speaks in certainties. Probability is disappointing. Certainty is flattering, which is why such a vast market for alternative therapies has developed.
Dr Miltiadous clarified that the Cyprus Medical Association is not opposed to new methods, provided they are scientifically proven, supported by extensive literature and recognised by the international medical and scientific community.
For his part, Dr Michalis Anastasiades, chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Cyprus Medical Association, commenting on terms such as “naturopathy”, “quantum medicine” and “shamanic medicine”, pointed out that this “is not medicine, it is charlatanism”.
Aesthetic medicine
As Dr Mavrogeni explained, within the field of aesthetic medicine, procedures requiring particular care include injectable treatments such as botulinum toxin and fillers, as well as biostimulator treatments, mesotherapy, threads, PRP and applications involving lasers and other energy-based devices. At the same time, unapproved pharmaceutical products and injectable “treatments” are circulating.
Dr Mavrogeni clarified that the problem is not the treatment itself when there is a scientific indication for it and it is performed correctly. The crucial issue is who performs it, what training they have, what product is being used, where it was obtained and whether there is an appropriate medical setting to address a possible complication.
Risks even in simple procedures
Even minimally invasive aesthetic medical procedures carry risks because complications can occur, the dermatologist explained, and the doctor must be able to recognise and manage them.
In a filler injection, one rare but serious complication is the accidental injection of material into a blood vessel. This may cause vascular occlusion, skin necrosis and, in extremely rare cases, loss of vision or a stroke. Botulinum toxin may result in eyelid drooping, asymmetry or unwanted muscle weakness and, more rarely, more serious complications. Likewise, the improper use of lasers or energy-based devices may cause burns, post-inflammatory pigmentation changes, scarring or eye injuries.
The psychology of the patient
The major question is why some people turn to such practices, which often come at considerable financial cost. As our interviewees point out, many may not even realise that what is being offered to them constitutes a medical procedure, particularly when it is marketed as a treatment package creating the impression of a simple facial treatment. Undoubtedly, they are also influenced by advertisements promising “miraculous treatments”.
“People are usually looking for quick results and solutions that sound easier or more attractive,” explained Dr Louiza Veresie, president of the Psychiatric Society. Often these are individuals who struggle to accept realities of life such as ageing, changes in the body or health problems that require time and effort to address, she added. They seek ways to remain young, slim or different from what they really are.
Recommendations from friends or acquaintances, as well as a luxurious or professionally organised environment, can create a sense of security. However, an attractive setting or a large social media presence is not proof of medical training or safety, Dr Mavrogeni said. As Dr Veresie described it, there is what she calls the “Balkan syndrome”, namely the mentality that “my friend went, my neighbour went, it worked for her, therefore it will work for me”, which is not always the case because every organism reacts differently.
False hopes
Dr Veresie placed particular emphasis on neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD. Many advertisements for questionable practices claim they can cure it, yet ADHD is not something that can be “cured”, the specialist stressed. There are no treatments that make ADHD disappear. There are interventions that help manage symptoms and improve a person’s functioning.
It is understandable that parents receiving such a diagnosis for their child may panic and become more vulnerable to promises and, as she commented, “many of these practices are based precisely on that anxiety”. They “offer false hope to people who are in a difficult position or searching for answers and are usually accompanied by a very high financial cost”. There is also the belief that the more expensive something is, the better it must be, which is not necessarily true.
How to recognise them
“There are certain warning signs that should concern citizens,” Dr Mavrogeni commented. People should investigate the professional status of the individual who will perform the procedure, what product will be administered, and whether a medical history is being taken and information provided about possible side effects.
Claims such as “100% safe”, “no side effects whatsoever” or “guaranteed results” should raise concerns, she added. In medicine, there is no invasive procedure with zero risk. Citizens should not hesitate to ask: Who will perform the treatment? What is their speciality? What exactly will be administered to me? And what will happen if a complication arises?
The easiest thing patients can do is seek the opinion of their personal doctor or specialist, Dr Miltiadous stressed.
“When we see websites or centres promising treatment for every disease, cures for every form of cancer, eternal youth or longevity, then we must be particularly cautious because such promises are clear warning signs,” he said. The Cyprus Medical Association’s website provides a list of all registered members and their recognised specialties, while anyone can contact the association and seek information regarding specific individuals.
Seeking healthcare from unapproved, unlicensed or unrecognised centres or individuals may be both dangerous and certainly ineffective, since none of these methods has scientific validation according to scientific methodology, Dr Anastasiades stressed. “They may not call themselves doctors but healers of every kind,” he explained. “The invocation of alternative methods should raise suspicions and concerns.”
Mr Lambrianides stressed that, unfortunately, in Cyprus “we buy hope at a high price”. We must be doubly cautious because there are people who may make promises that ultimately remain nothing more than promises, he added.
Complaints, offences and oversight
The lack of complaints from patients themselves, whether one places the term in quotation marks or not, who undergo questionable treatments is also a cause for concern. As Greek psychiatrist Dimitris Papadimitriadis notes in a reel, “the more someone has paid, the less able they are to admit it was not worth it”.
According to the Cyprus Medical Association, however, if complaints or sufficient indications exist, the disciplinary process is activated, with the Ethics Committee examining the case and, if deemed necessary, referring it to the Disciplinary Council. If a potential criminal offence emerges, the Police are informed.
As Dr Anastasiades explained, anyone practising medicine without recognition by the Medical Council and without a licence to practise from the competent Medical Association is acting illegally and may be committing a criminal offence.
Meanwhile, in 2025, the Ministry of Health announced that inspections at premises, including beauty institutes and medical practices, had uncovered unlicensed Botox and Dysport products that had been obtained outside the lawful supply chain.
OSAK spokesperson Dimitris Lambrianides said that the state, through the Ministry of Health and the relevant departments, must conduct more effective inspections. A procedure that is required to be performed in a medical facility cannot be offered in an ordinary clinic, he concluded.
