Health experts call for UK Government to ban injectables for under 18s

Health experts are calling for the UK Government to ban injectables for under 18s in light of TV programmes such as Love Island making fillers popular with teenagers. 

In its latest report, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is demanding that the Government make non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as botox and filler illegal for those under the age of 18. 

Spokesperson Duncan Stephenson said: “A desire to resort to quick fixes among the selfie generation has led to a massive increase in demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, especially lip fillers.

“There is huge pressure on young people to conform to the unrealistic and unattainable ideals they see on Instagram and shows like Love Island, but there are no age restrictions on non-surgical procedures. It means any 15-year-old schoolgirl could just walk into a shop and get their lips injected.” 

The public health organisation is warning that these treatments can trigger health problems if conducted by untrained or rogue practitioners, including infections, sepsis, scarring and in some cases even blindness.

The Irish Government’s minister for health is also considering an age restriction on cosmetic procedures, specifically the idea of banning botox and fillers for under 18s. 

With two fifths of those surveyed who have undergone a special procedure not checking whether the person carrying it out was registered or licenced to do so, the issue of safety is very much in the spotlight.

Head of the RSPH, Shirley Cramer, has branded the current rules surrounding injectables as “unfit for purpose”, adding, “the regulation of providers of these services is markedly different across the UK”. 

Read the RSPH’s Skin and Needles report for more information. 

This suggestion is hot on the heels of the Government’s aesthetics consumer safety campaign, which is encouraging the public to take these procedures seriously and to conduct proper research before undertaking a treatment. 

Do you think the age restriction is a good idea? Let us know in the comments below.