A leading aesthetics clinic has welcomed a rule change making it illegal for under-18s to be given cosmetic botox or fillers.

The Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act was passed by Parliament last month making it illegal to provide either procedure to under-18s for cosmetic reasons.

The act, which will come into force in the autumn, will also require a doctor, registered medical practitioner, or a healthcare professional to administer such procedures when there is a medical need in under-18s.

Vanessa Brown, director of VL Aesthetics, in Kingmoor Road, Carlisle, said the move was long overdue.

“It's crazy to think that it was okay for under-18s to receive botox and fillers for cosmetic reasons beforehand, especially at a time when the digital world puts so many pressures on young people to look a certain way,” she said.

VL Aesthetics offers a range of cutting edge face, body and laser treatments including wrinkle reduction and fat removal.

It is registered with the Care Quality Commission and it also holds ‘Excellence’ status with the government-recognised Save Face scheme for non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

Their company policy is such that they do not treat under-18s, but Vanessa said the new law would stop unscrupulous practitioners taking advantage of young and sometimes vulnerable people.

Vanessa said: “On a weekly basis we receive enquiries from people who might be 16 or 17 and even from parents asking if we can treat their daughter for lip enhancement.

"Up until now those young people would have been able to go and have someone stick a needle in their lips."