Bolton campaign to raise awareness of cosmetic fillers for under-18s

Bolton Council has teamed up with Bolton Youth Voices and aesthetic aftercare specialist Itsjustforme.com, to launch “Under 18s having injectable treatments – What’s the issue”.

The campaign highlights both the health risks of injections and draws attention to the law which makes it illegal for under 18s to have these treatments.

Worryingly in a national survey conducted by Save Face, 51,000 respondents said that they considered procedures like lip fillers to be comparable to a haircut or manicure.

For many under-18s surgically enhanced features are the- everyday norm.

Although since 2021, it is illegal for under-18s to have injectable cosmetic treatments.

Abigail Devenney, 25, said her teenage cousin has heard of girls as young as 12 having lip filler and cosmetic injections.

Abigail, who co-owns an aesthetics aftercare business It's Just For Me Ltd' with her mum has been brought in by Bolton Council as an industry specialist.

She said young people do not often realise what will happen in cosmetic procedures.

Abigail Devenney (Image: Abigail Devenney)

Abigail said: “The perception is that it’s not an injectable treatment, you can just go and have it on your lunch break, it’s not that big of a deal.”

The campaign highlights both the health risks of injections and draws attention to the law which makes it illegal for under -18s to have these treatments.

Unregulated products may cause infections and risks to physical health.

The campaign includes educational social media graphics and videos on TikTok and Instagram targeting younger audiences, the videos can be seen on Instagram via @bolton_youthvoice.

The information is designed to help young people to make informed decisions about undergoing cosmetic aesthetic injectable treatments.

In October 2021, the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers Children Act came into force, the main purpose of the Act is to prohibit the administering of botulinum toxin, or a filler, by way of injection for a cosmetic purpose, to a person under-18 in England.

It will also be an offence to make arrangements to undertake, or arrange for another person to undertake, these procedures on a person under 18 in England, a parent or guardian cannot give permission for a person under the age of 18 to have the treatments.

Abigail said: “If they are willing to inject under-18s, they just want money and are probably going to get the cheapest products, which are usually unregulated."

Young people are often left without help after a botched procedure said Abigail because it is illegal to administer the treatment on under-18s in the first place.

Abigail said: “A friend of my 16-year-old cousin had her lips done and the practitioner made them too big.

“She wasn’t happy with the results but couldn’t afford to pay for them to be dissolved and then filled again.”

Young people who go to procedures like this do often do it without their parent’s knowledge as under the 2021 Act, it is an offence to arrange for someone to undertake these procedures.

Abigail said: “I think it’s quite sad that young girls think they need to change their faces.

“18 is still quite young, but you’re old enough to make the decision for yourself.

“But not 12. When I was 12, I didn’t even know what Botox and fillers were.”

Abigail has had Botox and lip fillers as an adult and works to educate people on aftercare.

She said: “I think having aesthetic treatments is great as long as people are aware of potential side effects and follow their aftercare properly.”

Her advice to under-18s thinking of getting lip filler to wait.

She said: "It's better to wait until you’re 18 and if you’re unsure, back out.

"Whenever you go for a consultation with a practitioner, they should let you leave the clinic and have a think about the treatment, which is called a cooling off period.

"If that practitioner doesn’t give you the chance to do that, it’s a red flag and you should definitely not have the treatment done, whatever age you are."

Cllr Sue Haworth, Executive Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services at Bolton Council, said: “If you’re under 18 and feel pressurised to get injected treatments, please check out all the risks for yourself first.

“Anyone offering you treatment is breaking the law, and if they are willing to do this what other corners will they cut to save money?

“The use of counterfeit products is not uncommon, and some may reuse needles that can spread infection and lead to life-changing consequences.”

To check out Bolton Council’s social media campaign, visit Instagram and TikTok at @bolton_youthvoice.