Teen botox – Surgicare says no

Increasing numbers of both men and women in their 20’s are turning to anti ageing treatments to preserve their youthful looks. SurgiCare, one of the leading UK’s cosmetic treatments and surgery providers has seen a massive 76% increase in 20 something’s opting for non-surgical treatments since 2006. Shockingly, it has recently been revealed that some teenagers are contemplating Botox.

According to the Mintel report, more than 1 million shots of Botox were administered in the UK in 2007.

Mark Bury, chief executive at SurgiCare said; “At SurgiCare we see many people in their 20’s requesting treatments such as Botox, fillers, peels and microdermabrasions. The reason for this increase is probably down to people spending far too much time in the sun in their teens and not protecting their skin, so sun damage is apparent at a much younger age. We know stats have shown that people are drinking more, particularly young women, which also has a detrimental effect on skin, along with much more stressful lifestyles – resulting in speeding up the ageing process.

“The news that teenagers are having Botox is ridiculous. At SurgiCare we turn any teenagers wanting Botox away. Your teens are for enjoying, not for worrying about getting old already. Skin is plump with lots of elasticity in the teen years, there is no need for Botox. It is a great preventative, but starting that young is extreme.

"It is very rare that we would ever agree to treat a teenager, they are physically not ready - in some cases these young women or men have not even finished developing.

“With an estimated six out of 10 young women dissatisfied with their appearance, it is easy to see why there has been a significant rise in Britain’s youth seeking surgical enhancement. Every year, young women are bombarded with a constant flow of images from the media, glamorising celebrities with thin, yet surgically enhanced figures. This is sure to impact on the perception of ‘ideal’ beauty when it comes to young women across the world.

“A woman opting for cosmetic treatments, especially surgery, needs to be both physically and mentally ready for the procedure. Surgery should not be a knee jerk decision or as a reaction to peer pressure. If a patient is seen to have these concerns they will be referred to SurgiCare’s resident psychologist for a thorough assessment before any surgical procedure is carried out.

“It is SurgiCare’s policy not to operate on individuals under the age of 20. We suggest they wait until they are in a better position to make an informed decision about surgery and how they feel about their body.

“Being 30 is the new 20, so when people are hitting their 30’s, signs of ageing are becoming more and more unacceptable to them. We would certainly not recommend that every 20 something starts having cosmetic treatments, but if they are really unhappy with obvious early signs of ageing and want to prevent it getting worse, there are treatments that can be very effective and keep their appearance youthful for a much longer time. However, all these treatments are all medical procedures that must only be carried out by experienced practitioners.”

SurgiCare has released its new non-surgical figures today, showing a 49% increase in 20 something’s having Botox, 31% using fillers and 20% undergoing facial peels or microdermabrasions since 2006.

For more information, log on to Surgicare.co.uk.