Member of Parliament for South Leicestershire, Alberto Costa, has welcomed the new law which imposes an age limit on non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Laura Trott’s Private Members Bill, the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill, has been passed by Parliament today. The Bill ensures that no one under the age of 18 is able to access dermal fillers or botox.
Alberto has consistently raised the issue of the lack of regulation around non-surgical cosmetic procedures in Parliament since the beginning of 2019. This was brought to his attention by one of his constituents, Rachael Nappier, who received a dermal filler by someone who was untrained and unregulated. The procedure went wrong when the filler was accidentally administered into an artery which caused a trauma to her lip.
Alberto has previously held debates surrounding the of a lack of regulation on dermal fillers and botox as well as voicing concerns about the accessibility of procedures for those under the age of 18. Alberto very much welcomes the change in the law and it is a great first step towards tackling the pressures many young people feel about how they look, and the perceived appearance ideals.
Alberto said “I very much welcome Laura’s Private Members Bill which has passed through Parliament today. It was very concerning to me that young people, children, were able to have access to dermal fillers and botox. This is an industry that is wholly unregulated and we have seen many cases of botched fillers and botox on our young people. This is a step in the right direction for the industry to become regulated.”
It has been reported that during lockdown, there has been a rise of people still accessing procedures, despite restrictions. With many people then requiring corrective work now that clinics have reopened. Social media has played a strong role and influence in the rise of non-surgical cosmetic treatments, with many people finding a practitioner through Instagram. As procedures are becoming more accessible, we must ensure that those that are administering them are properly accredited on the register as well as being fully trained. Furthermore, if things do go wrong someone who is unregulated can continue to administer injectables with no accountability.
Alberto added “There is still much to do in terms of looking at the framework of legislation for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. With many botched procedures on the rise, it is important as Parliamentarians that we protect our constituents to ensure those that administer fillers and botox are properly trained and regulated. I would urge the Government to look at further regulating this industry.”
