This week, Leo Varadkar indicated his intention to introduce stricter regulations on the use of botox and dermal fillers in the soon-to-be future. With the current legislation around these potential issues showing signs of age and relaxation, it’s become apparent that an update is needed.
Following Varadkar’s unexpected departure statement a couple of days later, there were no surprising reactions. Fresh from his visit to Joe Biden’s White House, the then Taoiseach seemed inclined to address the subject of different injectables.
When queried by journalists about his own use of botox, Varadkar maintained his political tact, responding, “No, not yet, I’m not quite at that stage”. This non-committal answer not only avoided causing any controversy or predicaments, it also subtly hinted at stress relief coming from a potential career change rather than a botox injection.
Varadkar, at 45, remains our only Taoiseach from Generation X. He phrased his negation in a way suggesting that botox is perceived as an age-defying solution that older people resort to, rather than a procedure initially chosen by younger people who want to loudly announce that they’ve had botox.
It’s strangely apparent from both practitioners of aesthetic medicine and social media influencers that botox and filler treatments are becoming more popular, almost a brag-worthy experience. Some demographics no longer see the presence of an aging stage as a pre-requisite to these treatments. The culturally endorsed aesthetically uniform look is now deemed as cool, pushing you to reconsider waiting.
The aftermath of the pandemic has seen a surge in desire for defined and angular facial features, so sharp they veer on alien-like in appearance. This phenomenon is now being referred to as “alienisation” in worried circles. It’s as if I’ve picked an aged cultural metaphor out of my VHS collection, but the normalisation of these procedures is hardly an X-files case waiting to be solved.
A fusion of lax, unmonitored, and powerless regulations has enabled an illegal market to thrive, inadvertently providing universal access at the cost of endangering the wellbeing of patients. Politicians are often berated for succumbing to the superficial, yet when it comes to reducing the public health hazards associated with cosmetic treatments, fascination for appearances may diminish.
In the matter of Botox, denoted with an uppercase B, Ireland shares a unique connection. The sole worldwide production facility for Botox, a registered trademark owned by Allergan is located in Westport, Co Mayo. Botox, as it is formally known, is sanctioned for use in Ireland provided it is administered by a doctor, a dentist, or a registered nurse under medical supervision.
Conversely, botox spelled with a lowercase b is used generically to describe any item containing botulinum toxin. An extensive six-month probe conducted by RTÉ has uncovered that unauthorised botox-like substances, often imported from South Korea, are routinely and illegally imported and subsequently administered to unsuspecting individuals by untrained people with high audacity and low conscientiousness.
The disheartening findings are revealed in RTÉ Investigates: Botox & Beauty at Any Cost, by journalist Pamela Fraher, which aired during referendum week and continues to be accessible on the RTÉ Player. The programme features a range of distressing commentary such as “I don’t necessarily require a proper steriliser” to heartbreaking statements including “everyone was getting them done”. The poignant tale of one woman, whose face was blotted out, left in “excruciating pain” from a filler treatment, hitting a nerve as corrective action could only partially restore her damaged lips.
The investigation divulges a spectrum of dubious activities, from covert parcel collection to advice on removing product labels to evade detection. Subsequent to RTÉ unveiling their findings, the hurried retreats are so abrupt that they leave trails of panic in their wake.
It’s clear to understand how rogue botox practitioners can appear legitimate and authoritative, especially to those unfamiliar with the industry. Some present themselves as highly professional, donning immaculate scrubs and displaying counterfeit medical certificates. The decoration of their clinics might include hip pink neon lights, and their own flawless complexions could easily fool someone into thinking they’re viewing them through an Instagram-style filter. These impostors are very convincing, capitalising on the deep-seated insecurities of their clients by flattering them and subtly suggesting procedures – a calculated form of emotional manipulation that takes advantage of the system’s weak regulation.
The demand for these services may be ever-present, and there will always be an underground market ready to exploit it. However, a government that goes to great lengths to institute a regulatory body to safeguard individuals from harmful internet influences should take a closer look at clamping down on unlicensed practitioners.
The proposed new legislation is crucial. There is a glaring absence of rules designed to protect different age groups. England has outlawed the administration of botox or fillers to those under 18, but no such age limit exists in the rest of the UK. Teenagers and botox? The current legislation doesn’t object.
Surprisingly, dermal fillers are categorised as devices rather than medicines, enabling any individual to legally administer them if they so choose. The Patient Safety Licensing Bill 2016 aimed to regulate their use, but the bill is in a state of perpetual limbo. Eight years later, it still waits to be implemented.
Nowadays, younger generations – including those younger than Simon Harris – are starting to experience a shift in perception where once shocking procedures are becoming commonplace. Harris, ex-Health Minister, was well aware of these issues and identified them as critically pressing in 2019. No amount of cosmetic surgery can mask the fact that time has not stood still since then.