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By Katie Wright, PA<\/p>\n
MPs on the British House of Commons\u2019 Health and Social Care Committee have warned about the dangers of a \u201cconveyer belt\u201d approach to cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers, and called for more to be done to tackle the \u201cwide-reaching\u201d impact on mental health caused by body image dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe heard of some distressing experiences \u2013 a conveyor belt approach with procedures carried out with no questions asked, procedures that have gone wrong, the use of filthy premises,\u201d said chairperson of the committee Jeremy Hunt, as a new report calls for change.<\/p>\n
The report also recommended minimum training standards for people providing non-surgical cosmetic procedures and a \u201ccooling off\u201d period after consent, before the procedure is carried out.<\/p>\n
Hunt added: \u201cIn some ways, access is too easy for people who are feeling depressed or anxious about their body image. They can go and get these procedures done on the spur of the moment, without proper consideration, and then they find out that it hasn\u2019t actually solved the root problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re thinking about getting Botox injections to reduce your wrinkles or fillers to enhance your lips or face, it\u2019s important to carefully consider your options and not rush into the decision.<\/p>\n
We asked a body image expert for the five questions to ask yourself, before getting a cosmetic procedure.<\/p>\n Why do you want to change your appearance?<\/strong><\/p>\n The first thing to think about is the real reason underlying why you want to change your appearance, beyond \u201cI want to look younger\u201d or \u201cI want fuller lips\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt all boils down to wanting to feel better about ourselves,\u201d says Nicola Vanlint, psychotherapist, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy-accredited therapist and founder of NV Therapy, and while nothing\u2019s wrong with that, it\u2019s best to view cosmetic procedures as small enhancements, not life-changing alterations.<\/p>\n Vanlint adds: \u201cWe can\u2019t have a mindset of enhancing what we\u2019ve already got if we\u2019re searching for something else to make us happy. We need to look at what we have.\u201d<\/p>\n Are you copying a celebrity?<\/strong><\/p>\n If your desire for fillers or Botox is inspired by the pillowy lips and smooth foreheads of models and actors on Instagram, there\u2019s a danger you\u2019ve fallen into the \u201ccompare and despair\u201d trap.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the social media world, it\u2019s all about everybody trying to show their best selves, but we\u2019ve got to understand that comparing ourselves is only going to equal despair,\u201d Vanlint says.<\/p>\n With the popularity of digital filters and editing, you never know if you\u2019re looking at an accurate depiction of a celeb\u2019s face. <\/p>\n Plus, famous people often have a lot more money to spend on aesthetic procedures, and access to the best surgeons in the world \u2013 meaning your end result could be very different to theirs.<\/p>\n Vanlint says: \u201cAspiring is something different \u2013 aspiring to be your best self, not somebody else\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n Are you expecting the surgery will give you instant confidence?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to think \u201cIf only I could change X, Y or Z, I\u2019d be happy\u201d, but in reality, that might not be true \u2013 and you could end up wanting more cosmetic procedures to mask a lack of confidence.<\/p>\n It may help to think about how you would respond to a friend who told you they wanted to get fillers or injections.<\/p>\n Vanlint says: \u201cRather than necessarily asking others \u2013 because then we\u2019re seeking validation from others, which can be a tricky one \u2013 just ask yourself, \u2018What would I say to a friend?\u2019 Then you\u2019re building on your positive internal dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n Could you improve your confidence in another way?<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of resorting to cosmetic interventions, you might want to try building your self-esteem from the inside first.<\/p>\n Vanlint recalls a client who didn\u2019t like anything about their body.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked them to find just one thing they liked, and they had a mole they liked. So, what we worked on for that person, was to look at that mole on a daily basis and say \u2018I like this mole\u2019 and really build on that positivity.\u201d<\/p>\n In the case of lip fillers, Vanlint suggests experimenting with make-up first, to see how you feel: \u201cGet yourself a decent lip liner and try out different techniques. At the end of it, you might think \u2018I actually don\u2019t feel that bad about my lips anyway\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n How would you feel if it went wrong?<\/strong><\/p>\n As referenced in the government report, even non-surgical cosmetic procedures can go wrong, which is why it\u2019s vital to understand the risks.<\/p>\n And while a \u201ccooling off\u201d\u2019 period may not be a legal requirement yet, taking time after your initial consultation before booking a procedure could be a wise idea.<\/p>\n Vanlint says: \u201cIf we have the correct knowledge and we actually digest that knowledge, we\u2019re able to make better decisions for ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Read the latest issue of IOL Fashion digital magazine here.<\/p>\n