Key Summary
- Teenagers are being pushed toward irreversible procedures before they have the emotional maturity to understand the long-term consequences
- 82 percent of adults favour a protective legislation preventing under-18s from accessing Botox and fillers without parental consent
- England has a legal ban on under-18s accessing Botox and cosmetic fillers, but there are no restrictions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
There is a growing concern that social media's influence is fuelling a cosmetic procedure crisis among under-18s, and there should be laws to restrict them from accessing such procedures.
A survey by Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors (CSS), a specialist law firm dealing with cosmetic surgery negligence, shows that 82 percent of adults favour a protective legislation preventing under-18s from accessing Botox and fillers without parental consent.
The survey collated responses from over 2,000 UK adults and found that nearly seven out of 10 (67 percent) adults believe social media has a "huge influence" on under-18s seeking unnecessary cosmetic procedures to conform to the beauty standards.
The study noted that Generation Z is the first to have grown up around heavily filtered social-media beauty standards since birth, and to have constant access to algorithms pushing aesthetic procedures and products.
Vulnerable teenagers are being pushed toward irreversible procedures before they have the emotional maturity to understand the long-term consequences, it added.
Some of the potential risks include: Infection and scarring that can lead to permanent disfigurement; psychological impact during critical developmental stages; long-term complications from premature interventions on still-developing faces and bodies; and unqualified practitioners operating in an unregulated market with no accountability.
"The adolescent brain is still developing decision-making capacity," explains Michael Saul, partner at CSS.
"Adding social media pressure to access permanent procedures creates a perfect storm for regrettable choices that these young people will live with for the rest of their lives."
Currently, only England has a legal ban on under-18s accessing Botox and cosmetic fillers, but there are no restrictions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
While Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are developing licensing frameworks, they currently lack the same protections as England.
The research found that 86.4 percent adults feel cosmetic procedures are currently under-regulated.
Critical gaps
The CSS has listed some critical gaps in the system.
They include no standardised age restrictions across UK regions and unqualified practitioners operating legally with no mandatory certification or training requirements.
There is no professional oversight body to enforce standards or investigate complaints and inadequate safety standards, and no requirement for reporting complications, it added.
Required steps
The law firm wants the UK Government to implement UK-wide age restrictions requiring parental consent for all cosmetic procedures for under-18s.
Establish compulsory certification for all practitioners performing cosmetic procedures, ensuring they have appropriate medical training and are held accountable for their work.
Create a regulated professional body with real enforcement powers to investigate complaints, set safety standards and remove practitioners who fail to meet requirements.
Require platforms to restrict cosmetic procedure advertising to under-18s and crack down on content that promotes unrealistic beauty standards to young audiences.
The CSS also wants enhanced education in schools about body image, social media literacy and the realities of cosmetic procedures.
Support services for young people considering cosmetic procedures, including mandatory counselling.
