Khaberni - The spread of Botox and filler injections among teenagers has raised widespread concerns, following UK organizations dealing with cases that ended in deformities and a need for emergency medical treatment.
The reports received by "Advice Direct Scotland" observed an increase in family complaints about unregistered practitioners providing these procedures within teenagers' homes, operating without any oversight.
Ghost practitioners target teenagers' homes
The organization described some of these service providers as "ghost practitioners" who visit teenagers' homes to perform cosmetic injections, exploiting the youth's desire to improve their appearance without sufficient oversight of their medical facilities.
The organization analyzed 50 cases from their files, discovering that 24 of them contained reports of physical damage or negative side effects, some of which required urgent medical intervention to resolve the situation.
Social media fuels the phenomenon
Ashton Collins, the founder of the "Save Face" platform, noted the pivotal role of social media platforms in pushing youth towards these procedures, explaining that algorithms display discounted offers and limited-time ads that make cosmetic injections seem as simple as a nail trimming.
Collins clarified that the age group between eighteen and twenty-five represents 48% of the complaint cases received by the platform annually, emphasizing that this group is unaware of the risks of these medical procedures.
Concerns about the absence of medical safety
The documented cases reveal a recurring pattern of negligence, such as misdiagnosing swelling as a simple allergy, then demanding additional fees from the affected individuals to rectify the damage, according to "Metro" newspaper.
The experts confirm that any entity providing these services to minors without verifying their ages operates outside the legal framework, exposing teenagers to permanent risks.
The cases documented by "ADS" indicate that some practitioners disregard basic medical principles, leaving victims with limited treatment options after damage has occurred.
New laws to protect minors
Britain issued the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Filler Act in 2021, which criminalizes administering Botox or filler injections to anyone under eighteen, even with parental consent, while the Scottish government is currently working on enacting similar legislation.
Jillian Edmund, a representative at Advice Direct, cautioned that many of these service providers lack adequate knowledge of facial anatomy, infection control, and complication management, leaving patients vulnerable to severe damage without the possibility of holding unscrupulous practitioners accountable.
