Ethics think tank calls for ban on non-surgical procedures for under-18s
There are major points of ethical concern around the practice and promotion of cosmetic procedures, according to a report from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
The report, titled “Cosmetic Procedures: Ethical Issues”, makes a series of recommendations to reform the ways in which cosmetic procedures are marketed and carried out in the UK, with an emphasis on non-surgical procedures such as injectables and fat-freezing treatments.
Free cosmetic surgery game apps present a particular concern for the council, which is worried about the effects on children who could be influenced to think of cosmetic surgery as frivolous and fun, especially on top of social media and popular culture messages that perpetuate body image ideals.
The report recommends social media platforms carry out independent research to understand how the online world contributes to “appearance anxiety” in children and put appropriate measures in place to dull down its impact.
“We’ve been shocked by some of the evidence we’ve seen, including makeover apps and cosmetic surgery ‘games’ that target girls as young as nine. There is a daily bombardment from advertising and through social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat that relentlessly promote unrealistic and often discriminatory messages on how people, especially girls and women, ‘should’ look,” said Jeanette Edwards, professor of social anthropology from the University of Manchester, who chaired the inquiry.
The council called for a ban on non-surgical procedures for under-18s unless for medical reasons corroborated by a health specialist such as a GP or psychologist. It also urged the Department of Health to make all dermal fillers prescription-only, like botulinum toxin, in order to place formal limits on who can inject them, as well as implement legal quality and safety approval measures on the product itself.
The report has been welcomed by the JCCP. Professor David Sines CBE, chair of the JCCP, said, "The publication by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics of its report on ‘Cosmetic Procedures – Ethical Issues’ is very timely as the sector faces rapid growth and rising concern about public awareness and patient safety. The JCCP welcomes this very comprehensive and thought-provoking report and will provide support and leadership to ensure that its key recommendations are put into practice."
