A growing wave of young people are seeking cosmetic procedures like Botox and fillers, driven not by personal desire, but by the relentless currents of social media trends and algorithmic influence.
The pursuit of an idealized, often unattainable, aesthetic is becoming increasingly common, even among those too young to legally undergo these treatments. This pressure is fueled by filtered images and carefully curated online personas.
One young woman, Ashton, experienced firsthand the dangers of this trend. A cosmetic procedure went wrong, leaving her with a painful and costly correction – needing to pay extra to have the filler dissolved.
Ashton describes a disturbing pattern within the industry: many practitioners operate discreetly, almost as “ghosts,” offering services in homes or temporary pop-up locations. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about qualifications and safety standards.
Her advice to anyone under 18 considering cosmetic procedures is stark and direct: “Don’t have them done. You don’t need them done.” She emphasizes the illegality of these procedures for minors.
Anyone willing to inject a minor without verifying their age is likely operating without ethical considerations, prioritizing profit over well-being. This creates a dangerous environment for vulnerable young people.
The Scottish Government recognizes the urgent need for regulation. New legislation is being introduced to specifically address this issue, making it an offense to provide non-surgical procedures to those under 18.
The goal is to establish robust and proportionate regulations, ensuring that anyone choosing to undergo these procedures can do so safely, protected from unqualified practitioners and potentially harmful outcomes.
This legislation aims to safeguard a generation grappling with unrealistic beauty standards and the pressures of a hyper-visual online world.
