Government considering ban on fillers and botox for under 18-year-olds

"As a matter of priority."

The Irish government is considering a ban on botox and cosmetic fillers for people under the age of 18. Minister for Health Simon Harris said that there has been a considerable rise in the number of people seeking such procedures, particularly young women and men. Although the procedures and the industry are regulated in Ireland, there is concern that there needs to be further restrictions in place. “Many of these products are being offered cheaply, without prior assessment of the person and by professionals who are not regulated in this country," said Minister Harris in a statement. "There are a number of reasons for this including a desire by young men and women to be perfect driven by social media. “But there are also companies and professionals who are exploiting that for their own gain." Harris asked the Department of Health to consider the potential health risks of such procedures and to in turn communicate this to the public. He said that although this is not specifically an Irish issue, he believes it should be a "matter of priority" for the country. “While the profession and the products are regulated, I am conscious that this is an industry that is continuing to grow and, particularly worryingly, it is targeting young men and women," he said. Harris also compared the issue to the ban on sun beds for under 18-year-olds in 2014 and asked whether a minimum age should be imposed on those looking to avail of fillers and botox. “This cannot be an area that goes unregulated or unsupervised," he said. A study conducted by Thérapie Clinic in 2015 showed that almost half of Irish people would consider botox. 47 percent of people said that they would think about having the procedure to counteract the signs of ageing, while 80 percent said that they would not be deterred from getting botox if their friends or family reacted negatively. One in 10 people said they would have their treatment carried out by a nurse if it worked out cheaper.