Hanging by a thread: legislation and protecting the public

On 12th February 2019, the regulation of the non-surgical cosmetic industry was discussed in a Westminster Hall debate, with several MPs stating that regulation does not go far enough to protect the public. I was asked to give my opinion on the debate back then, which I had waited for with high hopes and expectations, optimistic that maybe the ball that had slowed considerably might just start rolling again and gathering momentum.

I commented back then that ‘It was great to see the MPs taking an interest, particularly from Mr Costa, but the arguments raised were not anything new’ (Kilgariff, 2019). One of the points raised was how the media is portraying aesthetic treatments to the young and vulnerable, and how the young seem to regard aesthetic treatments and procedures as nothing more serious than popping out to get their hair done.

It is interesting that only this week, leading fashion houses Alexander McQueen, Gucci and Saint Laurent, among others, have announced that they will no longer be using models under the age of 18 years to portray adult fashion (BBC News, 2019). Even prominent fashion magazine Vogue last year made the editorial decision to stop recruiting under 18s for their publication (Scott, 2018). At the time of writing this column, it is mental health awareness week, which makes me wonder why in these times of patients seeking the squarest jawline or the poutiest lips to flaunt on social media, there is still pretty much free reign for absolutely anybody to set up and start administering aesthetic and cosmetic procedures and treatments.