Mental health checks if you want Botox

SMOOTHING unwanted wrinkles has become so easy you can do it in your lunch break.

But a crackdown means mental health checks will be carried out on those wanting dermal fillers or Botox to protect vulnerable customers.

Beauticians offering cosmetic procedures have been told they must first screen people to ensure they are psychologically fit for the procedures.

They will be trained to spot conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) – a condition that causes people to obsess over perceived flaws in their appearance. The extra measures are to be introduced following a meeting between the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) and NHS England.

It follows a similar agreement with Superdrug in January. It was criticised when it started offering the services at its flagship London store in The Strand as part of a trial. Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England medical director, said the latest move was a ‘major step’ towards protecting those with mental health problems from exploitation. But he warned that clinics who are not members of the JCCP will not have to comply with the code of practice.

He said: ‘We know that appearance is one of the things that matters most to young people, and the bombardment of idealised images and availability of quick-fix procedures is helping fuel a mental health and anxiety epidemic.’

The checks have been developed by psychologists. Questions include how often somebody feels anxious about certain parts of their body. Customers can be urged to visit their GP. Studies have shown that fewer than 10 per cent of people who have cosmetic work such as lip fillers are satisfied with the outcome.

Kitty Wallace, of the BBD Foundation, said procedures like Botox can have a damaging effect on mental health. ‘We know that people with body image problems are more likely to turn to “quick-fix” procedures,’ she said.

‘Fuelling an anxiety epidemic’