It's soon to be officially illegal for children and teens to get botox or fillers, according to a new Act passed this week.
The Act, passed in Parliament yesterday (29th April), is due to come into effect in autumn and is set to outlaw providing the injectables to anyone under the age of 18, for cosmetic reasons.
The move is expected to stop as many as 41,000 botox injections from being handed out to under 18s every year.
It will also mean that a doctor, healthcare professional or registered medical practitioner must be the one to administer the injectables to children if they are needed medically.
Advert
The campaign started thanks to pushes from Sevenoaks Conservative MP Laura Trott, who pushed the "Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill" through Parliament.
She warned that according to research from Save Face, a national register of Accredited practitioners, there had been 73 per cent more complaints in the last year, with 81 per cent related to dermal filler treatments, and 13 per cent to Botox.
The findings also showed that "45 of the patients who complained were under 18s - with the youngest just 15-years old". Plus, "of the under-18s, 42 received lip filler treatment, 2 had cheek fillers and one a non-surgical nose job."
Advert
Speaking ahead of the bill passing, she said: "This is a largely unregulated industry, and so the data we have only represents the tip of the iceberg.
"We know there are huge pressures on young people to conform to the unrealistic and unattainable ideals they see on social media. However, despite all the dangers there is currently no legal age limit for dermal filler or Botox procedures.
"This means any 15-year-old schoolgirl could just walk into a shop and get their lips injected by someone with no qualifications. This cannot be right".
Speaking to Tyla about the new ruling cosmetic nurse, Nina Prisk said she believed it was for the best.
Advert
"I would always advise people to really think about why they want Botox before having it," she said. "In an age where our differences are increasingly more accepted, I don't think people should feel victim to peer pressure or feel pressure on social media to be wrinkle-free, because that is not natural."
She added: "I also know that many of my patients regard their regular Botox appointments as personal-care which is akin to their monthly hair appointments and something that makes them feel and look good, thus improving their confidence.
"Either way I wouldn't usually advise anyone to have prevention Botox before their 20s. That way puberty has well and truly ended."
Featured Image Credit: ShutterstockTopics: Life News, Beauty, News