MPs have supported a ban on children receiving Botox or cosmetic fillers.
Conservative Laura Trott (Sevenoaks) wants to bring the procedures in line with other body modification techniques, such as tattooing, by banning them for under-18s.
Her Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill seeks to prohibit the procedures for children in England if they are for purely aesthetic purposes and not approved by a doctor.
The Bill was given an unopposed third reading, meaning it has cleared all stages in the House of Commons and must undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords before it can become law.
Health minister Nadine Dorries told the Commons: “I believe everyone has the right to make informed decisions about their bodies, but our role in Government is to support young people in making safe, informed choices where necessary and to protect them from potential harm that cosmetic procedures can do to their health.
“The increasing popularity of cosmetic procedures and the pressures on young people to achieve this aesthetic ideal are well documented and I believe this Bill is an important step in putting these necessary safeguards in place.”
MPs have previously raised concerns about the “Love Island effect”, which involves young people experiencing physical and mental harm by seeking to achieve unrealistic body images promoted on television and elsewhere.
