New Cosmetic Injectables Ban for the Under-18s

What the new cosmetic injectables ban for the under-18s really means

Following Royal Assent of a new piece of legislation, from 1st October 2021, clinicians who treat the under-18s with dermal fillers or botulinum toxin face prosecution, including dental professionals.

 

Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine (POM) and therefore must be prescribed by a registered doctor or dentist who has completed a full assessment of the patient. Injectable medical fillers, on the other hand, do not require a prescription. Any dental professional who chooses to provide these treatments to patients must make sure they are trained, competent and indemnified to do so.

 

Offering a dentist’s perspective on the new law, Dr Sharon Kaur, who combines non-surgical facial aesthetics with dentistry, commented: ‘I have been turning away under-18s for facial aesthetics for years and increasingly so over the last few, thanks to the rise of influencers and social media.  

 

‘I welcome the ban and only wish it had come sooner. Social media is so powerful; if we can create trends in minutes, we should be able to use the same platforms to educate our younger generations to value and appreciate what makes them unique. Having injectables is a decision too many people are making lightly; this cannot be compared to getting your nails done or having lash extensions. 

 

‘Also, being a mother of two means I know one day my children’s generation will have a responsibility to ensure the well-being of future generations. I want other practitioners, like me, to begin to make that change for them.

 

‘For me, facial aesthetics and dentistry have always been about treating the person holistically.  

By this, I mean finding their motivation for improved health and aesthetic change and discussing openly why a person may not be managing their own oral health or why they are requesting facial aesthetics so far from their presenting appearance.

 

‘Body dysmorphia is not a taboo topic in my clinic, and we need to ensure those patients we are treating for facial aesthetics are making the right decisions for them, enhancing and supporting their natural individual beauty and health.  

 

‘I have a quote on my wall that states, “Don’t be pretty like her, be pretty like you” and this is the language I use with my patients.’

 

The Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021 was first introduced into the House of Commons by Laura Trott MP on 5th February 2020 and its Second Reading took place on 16th October 2020. On 25th November 2020, the Bill passed Committee Stage unamended. It received Royal Assent on 29th April 2021 and will come into force on 1st October 2021.