‘Botched’ lip fillers warning as expert says celebrities fuel rise in cosmetic procedures
EXPERTS have warned of the dangers of unregulated lip fillers as they claim celebrities are fuelling the rise in people having cosmetic procedures. Reality stars such as Megan McKenna, Charlotte Crosby and Kylie Jenner have been open about plumping their pouts. But medics have raised concerns over an increase in people using self-injected dermal and lip […]
EXPERTS have warned of the dangers of unregulated lip fillers as they claim celebrities are fuelling the rise in people having cosmetic procedures.
Reality stars such as Megan McKenna, Charlotte Crosby and Kylie Jenner have been open about plumping their pouts.
But medics have raised concerns over an increase in people using self-injected dermal and lip fillers, as well as potentially deadly “Brazilian butt lifts”.
Nora Nugent, of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps), wants to see tougher regulations as she warned young people are being influenced by what they see online.
She warned that the estimated increase in people seeking cosmetic procedures had not been matched by improved education.
‘Celebs fuel rise’
The consultant plastic surgeon told the BBC that the rise in plastic surgery was in part down to celebrities and influencers posting their procedures online.
Ms Nugent added that it was also due to “rising availability, better awareness of procedures and relatively more affordability”.
She also raised concerns over so-called “cowboy injectors”, such as beauticians, who administer fillers without medical training.
The medic warned that many are not qualified to safely assess patients or spot complications and called for restrictions on who can perform treatments.
The risks: Unregulated lip fillers could cause blindness or a stroke
Doctors have warned over the deadly side-effects associated with unregulated lip fillers – which can cause blindness or a stroke.
Leading cosmetic doctor Tijion Esho, founder of the Esho Clinic, said people can cause “catastrophic” damage to themselves by jumping on the filler bandwagon.
He said: “From hematomas to infections, abscess and tissue necrosis (where blood vessels become blocked with filler leading the tissue in that area to die), there are so many consequences to consider.
“People can go blind and suffer a stroke.
“There’s a risk of infection, abscesses can form and tissue necrosis is also a risk. People can be permanently disfigured.
“My fear is that something really bad will happen before people take note, which is why I’ll always be fighting for legislation.”
‘My lips quadrupled’
It comes after a woman who got fillers at a friend’s house during a boozy “Botox party” revealed she nearly lost her top lip after the botched procedure.
Rachael Knappier says she woke up the next day to discover her lips had swollen to four times their normal size after having the £220 fillers done.
The beautician had injected the filler into an artery, which caused her lips to swell massively.
The 29-year-old, from Leicestershire, had to be rushed to hospital and after 72 hours, the filler dissolved and thankfully they went back down to their usual size.
‘Botox parties’
Last month, The Sun Online revealed how the woman who carried out the procedure is actually a gangster’s moll once jailed for three years in a murder case.
Bretony Gallimore, 27, tours the country carrying out cosmetic procedures on men and women at their homes in events often dubbed “botox parties”.
She has admitted having no insurance or any medical qualifications – as these are not required in the largely unregulated cosmetic surgery industry.
Botox parties, which offer cheap beauty treatments as you relax with friends, are a growing trend in the UK.
It’s now estimated that more than a million Botox procedures are performed each year in the UK and that number is rising.
Rachael says she has learnt her lesson and is now campaigning for tighter regulations of the cosmetic surgery – and has received the backing of the Prime Minister.
Offering her sympathy to Rachael, Theresa May said in January: “We are committed to improving the safety of cosmetic procedures and there are a number of ways in which that can be done: better training and robust qualifications for practitioners, but also clear information so that people can make informed decision about their care.”
She continued: “We would urge anyone seeking a cosmetic procedure to take the time to find a reputable, safe and qualified practitioner who is subject to statutory regulation or on an accredited voluntary register.”
The Department of Health and Social Care in England is set to launch a new campaign in the next few weeks to highlight the importance of getting the right information before opting for cosmetic procedures.
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They say that when procedures go wrong, it can not only impact a person’s mental and physical health, but also cost the NHS to fix it.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Anyone considering a cosmetic procedure should take the time to find a reputable, safe, and qualified practitioner, and make sure they understand the impact of any treatment on their physical and mental health.
“We’re working to improve the safety of cosmetic procedures, through better training and clear information so that people can make informed decisions about their care.”
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