Young individuals under the age of 18 are traveling from England to Wales for Botox treatments, taking advantage of the absence of legislation in Wales.
In 2021, England banned cosmetic Botox and lip fillers for those under 18, but no such law exists in Wales.
Save Face, an organization maintaining a register of qualified practitioners in the UK, has reported instances of under-18s circumventing the law by seeking treatments in Wales.
Ashton Collins, the director of Save Face, emphasised the growing popularity of these treatments and expressed concerns about potential issues for young people. She worked with MP Laura Trott to implement the law in England and believes it should be a logical step for Wales as well. Collins argues that implementing an age limit would mitigate the risks associated with such procedures.
Since the change in the law in England, Save Face has received reports of under-18s traveling to Wales for treatments. One mother from Hereford shared that her 18-year-old daughter had sought treatment in Wales, and another from Bristol reported that her 16-year-old had received lip fillers just across the border. The latter mother lamented that the practitioner did not inquire about her daughter’s age and hung up when she called to complain.
Pharmacist prescriber Sophie Riddell, who works at clinics in South Wales, revealed that under-18s had approached her for treatment, but she refused to book anyone under 21. She expressed concerns that the Welsh government was not doing enough to ensure patient safety in this industry.
The Welsh government stated that Botox is a prescription-only medicine, and the qualified prescriber is responsible for ensuring safe administration in line with professional standards and the patient’s best interests.
They acknowledged the regulatory gap in Wales concerning these procedures and committed to further work in this important area.
