Unregulated anti-wrinkle filler ‘crisis in waiting’

INJECTABLE anti-wrinkle treatments are a “crisis waiting to happen”, health experts have warned.

An independent review into cosmetic procedures has concluded that dermal fillers, which are also used to plump up lips, should be made prescription only.

In the United States, where the items are “properly regulated”, there are just 14 items on the market, but across Europe there are 190 different types of fillers available, the review found.

Officials said the treatments, which involve injecting a gel-like substance into wrinkle sites, are regulated alongside items such as electric plugs, but should be classed as medical devices.

The group said there had been “explosive growth” in the market for dermal fillers – which are readily available to buy over the internet.

Nine in ten cosmetic procedures are non-surgical treatments, such as dermal fillers or Botox.

But the review board, chaired by NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, said that they were surprised to learn that non-surgical treatments are almost entirely unregulated.

“A person having a non-surgical cosmetic intervention has no more protection and redress than someone buying a ball-point pen or a toothbrush,” their report states.

Sir Bruce said: “The irony in all of this is that not only are fillers not regulated as a medical device, the most striking thing is that anybody, anywhere, anytime, can give a filler to anybody else – and that is bizarre.”

He added: “Dermal fillers – which are things that you inject into people and put beneath their skin – should be treated the same way as other types of implants.

“We should make fillers prescription-only in this country as soon as possible.”