Cosmetic surgery has been continuously on the uptrend for a number of years now, especially with the growth of celebrity culture and glamour models which is now even found online. Today’s beauty standards have changed to seek perfection. The obsession and desire to look perfect has never been so prominent, particularly in younger people who are easily influenced by the media.

 

With new procedures constantly emerging, they appear to be designed to bury the question of potential dangers and potential risk factors, these procedures do not follow the same methods as the traditional ‘knife’ approach, which essentially give an overall view of being a friendlier non-risk approach.

 

 

What are the current risks?

A badly administered filler can cause nasty side-effects, including risk of injecting into facial blood vessels, facial ulcers and even blindness. What’s more is that currently, the UK cosmetic filler industry isn’t regulated.

 

Over the recent months there has been a dramatic increase in problems after cosmetic procedures, specifically in younger people. Surprisingly the heavy increase also feeds back to the new methods that young people are having undergone. Is extremely concerning especially when most cosmetic surgery or procedures cannot be easily reversed.

 

Regulations (Lack of).

In the UK there are currently a lot of grey area’s when it comes to the regulations. The standards are more of a ‘guideline’ to follow.

 

Today, anybody in the UK over the age of 18 can have surgery, and if you are under the age of 18 parental consent is required. Whilst it is rare that anyone under the age of 18 would undergo a cosmetic procedure, it’s very concerning that there isn’t an age limit.

 

Another concern is the lack of understanding of the side effects and complications. Over 17 per cent of people that undergo cosmetic procedures believe that the side-effects weren’t fully explained.

 

Whilst changes are currently being put into place to ensure that offers cannot be giving to patients to sway them into procedures, all other points below are left unquestioned.

 

The side-effects.

­­­­A recent poll also shows that up to 65 per cent of people regret cosmetic surgery. Not only can these procedures cause physical damage including nerve damage and organ damage, but they can also have a detrimental effect on mental health. A recent survey has shown that almost 13 per cent of people that feel less confident after a cosmetic procedure and this results in them looking for cosmetic surgery compensation.

 

Should there be a minimum age?

Typically, a good surgeon will turn an 18-year-old away who’s wanting botox – but an unethical one may not. There is a perception that having treatment at an earlier age will help ward off aging in the future. Ironically, having treatment at an earlier age can make the patient look older.

 

Without doubt, any cosmetic procedure can bring on unwanted, permeant and irreversible problems. With the decision of making such a life changing life-changing event, and with 65% of people regretting having cosmetic surgery later in life, a question must be asked; Should there be a minimum age?

 

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