A study by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics has linked social media pressure with the growing popularity of non-surgical cosmetic surgery treatments such as anti-wrinkle and dermal fillers.
The study ‘Cosmetic procedures: ethical issues’ received contribution from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the professional standards organisation of which we at Manchester Plastic Surgery are members.
It found that young people are becoming increasingly anxious about their appearance, and this is partly due to the use of social media where photos can receive positive and negative ratings.
Unsurprisingly, celebrity culture, airbrushed images and apparently perfect lifestyles are also cited as factors which lead young people to feel anxious about the way they look.
Professor Jeanette Edwards of the University of Manchester chaired the council’s inquiry into ethical issues surrounding cosmetic procedures. She told the BBC: "There is a daily bombardment from advertising and through social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat that relentlessly promote unrealistic and often discriminatory messages on how people, especially girls and women, 'should' look."
Prof Edwards also called for cosmetic procedures to be banned for anyone under 18 unless they involve a multi-disciplinary team of specialists, GPs and psychologists, a move which we wholeheartedly support.
Botox and dermal fillers are both non-surgical procedures which can be helpful in creating a more youthful, fresher appearance for the face.
At present, these treatments can be offered by people with minimal training and no qualifications, and a variety of products that have no formal quality or safety approval can be used.
Not only does this mean that patients are put at risk from procedures which go wrong, but it also means that there’s a gap in the necessary consultation to assess whether the patient is a ‘good fit’ for the procedure.
The Council reports says ‘it is unethical that there is nothing to stop completely unqualified people from providing risky procedures like dermal fillers’ and calls for ‘an awareness campaign to help people check their practitioner’s credentials’.
Most of the people who seek these facial treatments at our practice are in their 30s and beyond, and treatments are carried out by our Botox and dermal filler expert Mr Christopher Jones.
Mr Jones attained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Plastic Surgeons and now specialises in all aspects of surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation.
Mr Jones meets all patients for an initial consultation to understand what results they would like to achieve and to assess whether we can meet expectations.
