Cosmetic procedure legislation has been 'just sitting on somebody’s desk' for eight years, medic says

This week’s Irish Examiner Women’s Health Report shows that a growing number of women – particularly those under 34 – feel positive towards cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery procedures including brow lifts, 'nose jobs', and breast augmentation. File picture

Stalled legislation around regulating cosmetic procedures like botox and fillers is "just sitting on somebody’s desk" for eight years with "no impetus to push it forward" until a death occurs, a leading medical practitioner has warned.

A decision is expected from the Government shortly about recommencing drafting of legislation to regulate such cosmetic procedures. It comes amid concern at the lack of regulation in the area, amid high-profile cases in the UK about botox and other procedures in recent weeks.

The Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill was approved by the then government in December 2017 and subsequently underwent pre-legislative scrutiny. It was then referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting. However, it has not progressed since then.

Currently, botox is supposed to be only available through prescription, under the administration of qualified doctors and dentists. 

However, it is arriving into Ireland regularly, as seizures conducted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) show. Last year, some 1,709 units of fake or illegal products claiming to contain botulinum toxin were seized, compared with just 26 in 2020.

Unlike botox, dermal filler is not yet subjected to stringent regulations, meaning that people can be administered it in unsafe settings and environments.

Botox survey

This week’s Irish Examiner Women’s Health Report shows that a growing number of women – particularly those under 34 – feel positive towards cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery procedures including brow lifts, “nose jobs”, and breast augmentation.

Just over a tenth (12%) of the 1,078 women interviewed for the IPSOS B&A survey conducted over a two-week period had undergone a procedure involving botox or fillers. Of those who had undergone botox or anti-wrinkle injections, 82% would consider doing it again.

Almost half who underwent either of these two procedures admitted to having done them for a confidence boost. Similarly, 47% of those who had lip fillers or injections also said they done it for confidence. 

Just 50% said they had done the latter for anti-aging purposes – compared with 66% who said they had done botox or anti-wrinkle injections for anti-aging reasons.

Dublin-based aesthetic medical practitioner Dr Eithne Brenner said regulation in Ireland is slow.

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“I think it (legislation) has just been sitting on somebody’s desk and there is no impetus to push it forward. Until we get something shocking like an Irish death, I don’t think we are going to get enough change. We are behind in terms of legislation and we really need it.” 

A statement from the Department of Health said: “A decision is now being sought from the Government to recommence drafting of the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill. A memo for Government will be considered at Cabinet shortly.” 

Last week in the UK, 14 people from County Durham and Darlington experienced "adverse reactions" including eye drooping and double vision following "botulinum toxin" injections. Of those, 10 people had required treatment.