The Physician’s Coalition for Injectable Safety has spoken out against “teen toxing” or the administration of Botox or other injectable products to individuals under the age of 18 for cosmetic reasons.
“This is a worrying trend that we are all beginning to witness,” said British Association of Cosmetic Doctors regional representative for the Republic and Northern Ireland Dr Patrick Treacy. “Western society has a long obsession with self-improvement.”
The trend gained much notoriety at the beginning at the beginning of March when an article on a mother injecting her teenaged daughter was released in The Sun. The mother first allowed her daughter to have the treatment on holiday in Spain when she was 15 and has since personally administered the treatment twice more.“With regards to the article, the mother is helping her daughter to develop a body dysmorphic disorder rather than providing common sense direction and responsible parenting,” said British Association of Cosmetic Doctors regional representative for Scotland Dr Simon Connolly.
Since the article’s printing, physicians, dermatologists and other practitioners of Botox from numerous countries have spoken out against the procedure for adolescents.
Cadogan Clinic consultant dermatologist Sandeep Cliff explained: “Often their skin is still developing and their features are still developing. I think to manipulate that at a young age is not a good practice at all.”
Aesthetic medicine professionals have said that the administration of Botox is not necessarily suitable for younger individuals. “The preventative benefits of Botox – its ability to prevent lines appearing – should only be contemplated about 12 months before wrinkles appear,” said Treacy. “There is no benefit otherwise and there may be complications of using a medicine with no perceived benefit for one so young. This is comparable to doing a face-lift of a 30-year-old to prevent her face sagging when she is 35.”
With treatments beginning earlier than usual, a teenage patient also runs the risk of becoming addicted to Botox treatments for a longer period of time. Repeat clients would normally be seen positively, but businesses are questioning whether the extra money made from hooking a teenager is worth it.
Cliff said: “Clearly, from the business perspective, it’s good for them, you have a client for life. But from a practical perspective and an ethical perspective, many companies are saying we’re not interested, that’s not what we’re involved with and that’s not what we’re here for.”
Cliff also believes that when an adolescent girl desires such an extreme measure as Botox, a physician may want to think about her motivation before scheduling a treatment.
“If you see a young girl that wants Botox, you really have to question why on earth she wants the injection,” he said. “Is there something going on that we can’t see?”
There are measures that young people should be advised to follow in order to maintain their youthful skin. Libby Eley, expert at Dove Spa explained: “Young girls would be much wiser to keep out of the sun and keep their skin moisturised. Healthy skin that allows the inner person to glow is attractive. Frozen faces in young skin are not attractive.”
Story by Emily Becker
April 1, 2010
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