Multiple Milton Keynes beauty clinics caught offering underage injectables
As part of a campaign by Milton Keynes City Council, a total of 23 Milton Keynes-based beauty clinics have been caught offering illegal lip filler and botulinum toxin injections to underage teenagers.
According to the Milton Keynes Citizen, local Trading Standards officers posed as 17-year-olds looking to book in for the cosmetic procedure at various establishments across the city.
The undercover sting operation identified numerous clinics that failed to complete any kind of age verification checks prior to accepting the bookings. Only two businesses asked for the customer’s date of birth and one then continued with the reservation despite the details indicating the individual was 17 years old.
In response, the council has issued a strong warning to all clinics in the area, demanding they bring their practices in line with legal requirements. The businesses will also be closely monitored by officers to ensure compliance.
According to the parliamentary group (APPG) on beauty, aesthetics and well-being, almost a million botulinum toxin injections are carried out every year in the UK. However, it’s a criminal offence to administer botulinum toxin or filler treatments for cosmetic purposes to anyone under the age of 18.
Furthermore, the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021 prohibits arranging or booking these services for someone who is underage, including by telephone, online, over social media or in person. It is also illegal to agree to carry out the procedure on such individuals, even when no specific appointment is made.
“These are serious breaches of the law which are in place to protect young people,” says the cabinet member responsible for Trading Standards, councillor Paul Trendall. “Businesses who have been prepared to treat an underage customer will feel the full force of the law if they continue to behave in this way. It’s thanks to our Trading Standards colleagues that we’re able to do this work to protect people in our city.”
