Debate contribution: Non-surgical Cosmetic Products and Procedures

Debate contribution by Mr Alan Robinson on 2 December 2024.

MLA

Mr Alan Robinson

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

2 December 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Non-surgical Cosmetic Products and Procedures

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4686991

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I very much welcome the fact that the proposer of the motion supports our amendment. When it comes to healthcare, no matter how minor the procedure may seem, safety must always come first. The lens through which any regulation should be looked at is one that focuses on making the industry safer for patients. My party supports greater regulation of the use of aesthetic medicines in non-surgical cosmetic procedures. The use of injectables such as Botox, dermal fillers and other aesthetic treatments has surged in recent years, with people seeking to enhance their appearance in less invasive ways. However, the rapid growth of the sector has come, unfortunately, with significant risks. Regulation should ensure that providers are properly trained, that the products that are administered are safe, that they are administered within safe levels and that those who administer the products can be held accountable when things go wrong. When those procedures go wrong, they are not easily reversed, and, in most cases, the NHS is left to pick up the pieces. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons estimated that intervening in a botched butt lift could cost the NHS £15,000. It might be easy to administer the products, but, when the procedures go wrong, they are not easy to undo. The drive for perfection is driven by online trends. I have a 10-year-old who, along with all her friends, is obsessed with her skin and with beauty shops that provide very expensive products. I remember, from when I was her age, 10-year-old girls whose only obsession was with dolls and toys. However, young people are growing up, and they see many others talking openly online about their use of Botox and fillers, which are portrayed as common beauty treatments. The social media era has a lot to answer for. It must be said that many professionals in the industry would welcome regulation, because their high standard of work is being undermined by individuals who have basic knowledge and limited training and who provide cheap cosmetic products that can be bought online and even from the black market. Quite simply, there are some unqualified individuals who provide poor and unsafe cosmetic practices that have lifelong and devastating consequences that are not just physical but inflict a lifetime of psychological harm. Doctors, dentists and nurses have high standards to follow, but unqualified and untrained individuals are free to carry out procedures that can be life-changing and, on occasion, not for the better. It feels a little bit like the Wild West. Indeed, Save Face said that 100% of failed treatments were carried out by untrained and unskilled staff. Save Face also stated that it had received a startling 5,000 complaints over the past four years, 70% of which were related to fillers. In October 2021, the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021 came into force in England, making it illegal to administer Botox or a filler by way of injection for a cosmetic purpose to a person under the age of 18, but no such law exists in the Province. Under-18s here can have Botox and dermal fillers with no checks on their age. It is concerning that there is no legislation on non-surgical cosmetic treatments for those under 18, yet young people under 18 are banned from using, hiring or buying sunbeds and cannot get a tattoo. There is a gap in regulation. The Health Minister should, therefore, move to introduce a mandatory registration scheme in the Province so that local authorities can work in partnership with the Department of Health to protect public safety. New legislation would enable environmental health teams to regulate the industry throughout the Province. The consequences of improperly injected Botox or poorly stored dermal fillers can range from adverse reactions and infections to serious complications that require immediate medical intervention. That is not a scenario that we want for anyone. It is, therefore, crucial that steps are taken to ensure that only those who are properly trained and qualified are allowed to administer the products. The Department must regulate the sector in a way that ensures that patients can trust that the procedures will be carried out by professionals who meet the highest standards of safety and care and that no one under 18 can access the treatments in those settings. The Department must ensure that the products are stored and handled in a way that safeguards their effectiveness and reduces the risk of contamination or misuse. We can no longer have a situation in Northern Ireland where those carrying out treatments such as Botox and fillers are not required to be registered with the RQIA and local authorities have no powers to refuse their registration. My party, therefore, calls on the Minister of Health to review the lack of regulation whereby a practitioner can inject a client with a substance without being registered with the RQIA or their local authority. A registration process would help those considering a cosmetic procedure to make an informed choice. In the meantime, I call on the Health Minister to ensure that his Department increases awareness through campaigns that warn of the public health risks from using untrained individuals to administer such cosmetic products. I trust that the House will support our amendment.

877 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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