Too much too early
The Times newspaper recently reported that girls as young as 14 years old were not only requesting, but receiving cosmetic injectable treatments. Influenced by the new ’selfie’ culture more and more under 18 girls are seeking to imitate the appearance of certain celebrities.
However, professionals tell a different story claiming that very few under 16s asked for treatment. Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi has not observed a particularly remarkable increase as well.
He commented that he performed botulinum toxin treatments on patients 23-24 years old on a preventative basis and that he would feel unethical to do any notable facial work on someone whose face has not completed its development.
It is hard to get an accurate picture of the numbers, as none of the UK professional associations covers the age distribution of patients. In the US, however, both the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) produce yearly reports that track the distribution of age.
In 2014, the ASAPS reports a 0.3% increase in the number of patients below the age of 18 undergoing non-surgical procedures, with 0.7% decrease in the 20 to 29 age group.
The AMPS figures do reveal a higher increase in the number of teenagers seeking treatment, with a 3% rise overall, with 7% and 6% increase in teens undergoing botulinum toxin injections and fillers respectively.
Cosmetic treatments for teenagers most often being performed by medically unqualified practitioners. Although botulinum toxin, as a prescription only medicine is prohibited for use by unqualified individuals, dermal fillers are not. There are no legislation policies in the UK yet preventing any beauty therapist from injecting a filler into the lips of the patient of any age.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi: Lack of regulation has been an issue in the medical aesthetics industry for a quite a long time.
Health Education England (HEE) is still awaiting ministerial approval of qualification standards to exercise aesthetics. The policy is intending to rule out most beauty therapists currently performing injectable treatments without appropriate training.
The final guidance document is due for release early next year.
