Children are crossing the border from England to get Botox and dermal fillers which could disfigure them for life, politicians and campaigners have warned.
A ban on under-18s getting the so-called ‘tweakments’ was introduced in England in 2021, but the Scottish Government is yet to impose a similar rule.
Botox is used to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles by relaxing certain muscles, while fillers are gel-like substances that sit under the skin and create the illusion of fullness.
There has been an explosion in demand for the treatments in recent years, in part influenced by social media and reality TV stars such as Kylie Jenner, who has admitted to having lip injections.
Yet medics, politicians and campaigners have highlighted a lack of sufficient regulation in Scotland, and called on the devolved Government to restrict the world of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in line with England.
Kylie Jenner has helped popularise cosmetic treatments
Lip filler injections and Botox have become hugely popular with teenagers
Their desperate plea comes amid reports of youngsters travelling north of the border to have the injections.
West of Scotland MSP Katy Clark has now ramped up pressure on the SNP administration, accusing ministers of leaving young people at risk due to inaction.
Ashton Collins, from SaveFace, a UK-government approved register for aesthetic treatments, has raised serious concerns about youngsters from the north of England flouting the rules by travelling to Scotland, to take advantage of the lack of regulation.
She has said: ‘What’s happened is because of the lack of action in Scotland, we’re now seeing people from places like Newcastle going up to Scotland because they can get treatments under the age of 18 with no questions asked.’
Last night, Ms Clark, speaking to The Mail on Sunday, said: ‘The lack of regulations in Scotland is leaving the door wide open for harm.
‘We cannot wait until more people suffer serious injuries or disfigurement to act. T
he government must address these dangerous gaps in the law immediately.’
She added: ‘The fact that under-18s in Scotland can legally access potentially dangerous cosmetic treatments is unacceptable.
These are life-altering decisions that should be made with great care, not left unregulated, especially when young people are involved.’
Meanwhile representatives from Scottish Medical Aesthetics Safety Group (SMASG), British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) and British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) have all raised concerns over the lack of regulation of the sector in Scotland.
In a post online, the SMASG said ‘border hopping’ is a ‘key issue’ being raised.
It added: ‘Currently, under 18s have been found to cross the border as it is illegal for them to seek treatment in England.
There is concern that once the licensing scheme is introduced in England, non-medical practitioners may continue to practise over the border in Scotland if legislation is not also enforced there.’
Ms Clark added: ‘England has already taken steps to protect young people and the public from the dangers of unqualified practitioners.
It’s time for Scotland to follow suit and ensure our regulations reflect the seriousness of these procedures.’
It comes as industry experts have branded Scotland ‘the worst country in Europe’ for its rules around the ‘enhancements’, which can be toxic and cause tissue death.
A loophole means medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses and dentists, who carry out the treatments have to register with a Scottish Government regulator – but beauticians do not have the same checks.
Although Botox must be carried out by a trained medical professional, as it is a prescription-only drug, some practitioners are sourcing it on the black market.
Fillers are also being bought at a cheaper price in that way, but experts have warned it can carry extreme risks.
There is now so much money in Scotland’s £400million beauty industry that organised crime groups have started diversifying their smuggled cargo to include fake Botox and fillers from as far a field as China and South Korea – to be sold on the black market.
According to official records, the Scottish Government met with Police Scotland and environmental health teams last year amid concerns that organised crime groups had started to diversify into the beauty and cosmetics sector, such is the high demand for face-altering treatments.
A statement from ministers read: ‘Scottish Government officials met with Police Scotland and Environmental Health Officers on 12 January 2023 regarding concerns related to the potential involvement of organised crime groups in the beauty/cosmetics sector.
‘The implications of the use of counterfeit and unlicensed beauty products is one of a number of issues under consideration as we consider further regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
‘The Scottish Government and its partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce are committed to working together to disrupt any serious organised crime and the harm it causes to individuals and communities.’
In May, thousands of pounds-worth of Botox, needles and dermal fillers were seized from an industrial warehouse in the North of Glasgow by swat teams from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Glasgow’s Environmental Health team has also reported receiving an increased number of complaints about practices and procedures in aesthetic clinics.
Last week, the Scottish Government committed to launching a consultation on what regulation may be necessary for the aesthetic sector.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: ‘I confirmed this week that we will hold a public consultation into non-surgical cosmetic procedures to address gaps in regulation.
‘This will be published before the end of the year and is the next step in the process of delivering our goal of ensuring robust and proportionate regulation is introduced.’
