Cosmetic surgery - how young is too young?
Most people care about how they look, whether they use moisturiser to brighten their complexion or use mascara to open up their eyes. The little things that we do can go a long way for our looks, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Who cares if we spend a little extra time infront of the mirror or spend a couple of thousand pound on increasing the size of our breasts? If it makes us feel better about ourselves then what is the problem?
But what if that little injection of Botox was used on a 7-year-old or the dab of eyeshadow was on a 4-year-old getting ready to go to school? The situation is completely different now.
Over the past couple of weeks, we've been shocked to read
that girls as young as seven and eight are being administered with botox and lip filler injections by their own mothers, in the hope that it will propel them to super-stardom.
Antonia Mariconda, author and expert in the field of health, beauty, anti-ageing, cosmetic medicine and surgery, says: "It is an incomprehensibile and completely irresponsible act as a parent and generally as a human being, youngsters are already under immense pressure from the media fuelling unrealistic images of flawless celebrities as 'ideal', 'beautiful' and 'handsome'."
An article in this weeks Closer magazine profiles a young girl who wants to look like Princess Tiaamii - the daughter of Katie Price and Peter Andre - and she does so by applying lashings of mascara, lipgloss, eyeshadow and eyeliner. Not the usual playtime activity for children of her age.
Does this mean that age is becoming irrelevant? Isn't this a ludicrous thought?
Both Antonia Mariconda and Dr Kevin Hancock, council member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and a consultant plastic surgeon, believe that there are some special circumstances where a child may need to have cosmetic surgery. Antonia says that psychological screenings are a must. These are carried out to ensure that the patient is fully aware of what the procedure entials and assesses whether they are mentally ready for the change.
There have been many celebrities who have admitted that they wish they would have waited a few years before getting their surgery done, including Alex Gerrard, Steven Gerrard's wife, who had her breast enlargement operation when she was just 18. She later admitted that she wished she had waited until after she had had children, because her body has changed so much since then.
Popularity of Botox parties has also increased. With people administering the injection at home, surrounded by friends and sometimes alcohol.
Dr Kevin Hancock says: "Theses treatments should only be carried out in a clinical setting. Absolutely not in a social one involving alcohol or other inducements when one's judgement may be impaired and they are not in a safe or prepared environment should something go wrong."
Antonia also agrees, she thinks banning them would be the correct move - unregulated premises, needles and alcohol do not mix, "that's just asking for trouble".
Many people believe that using Botox from an early age will prevent wrinkles at a later stage in life, however, Dr Darren McKeown explains in the Daily Telegraph that there is no evidence that Botox works in the long term as a preventative.
He says: "Starting Botox treatments at any early age ultimately could do more harm to your looks than good."
What do you think is the right age to get a cosmetic procedure? Or will you follow the saying, grow old gracefully?
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
Antonia is currently working on a new TV seried called 'Look and Feel Younger' which will be aired on Sky TV.
Kevin operates out of Spire Murrayfield Hospital on The Wirral and the Catharine Suite at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. Kevin also consults and operates on the Isle of Man at the Private Patients Unit of the Noble’s Hospital in Douglas, and at Spire Abergele Consulting Rooms in North Wales.
Tagged in Katie Price Cosmetic Surgery