Teens have been travelling from England to Wales to get treated with cosmetic fillers and muscle relaxants in their faces because of lax laws, campaigners have claimed.
Cosmetic Botox and lip fillers for under-18s were banned in England in 2021 but no such law exists in Wales at present.
Save Face, a campaigning group which has a register of qualified practitioners in the UK, said it had been made aware of increasing reports of teens travelling to Wales to get treatments done.
Ashton Collins, director of Save Face, worked with MP Laura Trott to bring in the law in England but said she thought it would be a "no-brainer" for Wales to follow suit.
She added that since England's law change, the organisation had taken calls about under-18s who had “literally just crossed the border and come to Wales and had these treatments done”.
Ms Collins said: "People only report to us when something goes wrong, so what we're seeing is literally the tip of the iceberg."
What is Botox and what is it used for?
Botox, full name Botulinum toxin injections, relax the muscles by injecting the liquid to paralyse the nerves. It is normally for cosmetic reasons to smooth out lines and wrinkles, such as crow's feet and frown lines and is not permanent – usually lasting for around three to four months.
The NHS says: “In the UK, the cost of botulinum toxin injections can vary from about £100 to £350 for each treatment, depending on the clinic and the area being treated. Botulinum toxin injections for cosmetic reasons are not available on the NHS.”
Botox can also be used to treat excess sweating by injecting areas such as the armpits.
How old do you have to be to get Botox?
From October 2021, it became illegal and a criminal offence to administer Botox or any filler by way of injections for cosmetic purposes to someone aged under 18 in England - even if they had the permission of someone aged over 18.
Under the law change, it is also an offence to make arrangements or book an appointment to provide these treatments to anyone under the age of 18 in England.
Registered doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists can still provide the treatments to under-18s, but only in cases where the treatment has been approved by a doctor.
The law covers Botox and fillers.
What are the risks associated with Botox?
Users should make sure their practitioner is fully qualified and as Botox is a prescription-only medication, it should be prescribed through official channels.
Botox, when administered properly and by someone fully trained, has few risks but side effects can include headaches and flu-like symptoms shortly after, and can cause dropping on the eyelids temporarily. Bruising is also a common side effect.
