Only 4% of clinics asks for photo ID, says WhatClinic.com

As demand from younger patients for lip filler procedures increases, only 4% of clinics ask for photo ID according to a WhatClinic.com survey. 

Despite the fact that 100% of aesthetic clinics surveyed said they won’t provide lip filler to under 18s, only 4% said they request photo ID from patients and approximately 10% of those surveyed said they would only ask for ID if the patient was ‘particularly young looking’. Furthermore, 78% of clinics said that they only rely on information that the patient volunteers through form completion before any procedure is carried out.

WhatClinic conducted the survey in response to the increase in consumers within the 18-24 age bracket looking for filler and botulinum toxin related treatments. Most of the clinics surveyed felt that Botox was best suited to people over 25, however 20% of clinics thought that 18 was an acceptable age to start Botox treatments.

The results of the survey also highlighted that 73% of clinics had seen as increase in demand for lip filler this year; 42% of traffic to lip augmentation pages that were sampled this year, were from visitors aged 18-24 and the average lip filler spend of each patient per visit by more than 80% of patients is over £200. 

The infatuation with celebrity influencers, namely the Kardashian and Jenner clans, along with social trends sees the demand for lip fillers at an all-time high. 58% of clinics surveyed said that the demand for lip fillers is continuing to grow. They cited social media and celebrity as key influencers of the younger population, as cosmetic procedures such as Botox and lip fillers can often be driven by social trends.

Dr Susanna Hayter, a qualified GP and private aesthetic practitioner said, "I am getting more and more enquiries from young girls regarding requests for lip fillers. They usually want a consultation and treatment on the same day. However, all potential clients should have a consultation where the risks and likely outcomes are made clear, which should then be followed by an appropriate cooling off period. Many places do not follow these critical guidelines provided by the General Medical Council (GMC) for cosmetic procedures.”

“We require all clients to provide information including date of birth, and I would never consider treating anyone below the age of 18. Given the results of the WhatClinic survey we will now routinely ask all clients who appear to be below 25 years old for photo ID."

With the amount of treatments being carried out on the rise, prices are following suit with the average cost per visit for lip augmentation being in excess of £200.

Philip Boyle, Head of Consumer Matters at WhatClinic says “Clinics offering aesthetic procedures such as lip fillers should be aware of the growing interest from this younger demographic, and ensure that appropriate checks are carried out before treatment is provided.”