Who doesn’t like to save a buck? Buying things on sale is fantastic – you feel good and save a little money, and all’s well that ends well, right? Well, there’s a big difference between buying a sweater on sale and getting dermal fillers or other injectables on the cheap.

The difference could mean disfigurement or even death, according to a recent article from the BBC News.

The British parliament is currently kicking around the regulation of nonsurgical cosmetic injections after a Swansea, Wales, woman experienced the dramatic swelling of her lip after having filler injected.

The woman had fillers injected for the first time two years ago because she wanted to look like the famous sisters Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian.

The woman believes that the filler was injected by mistake into a blood vessel, causing swelling, splitting and severe bruising.

Support for the regulation comes from health professionals after dozens of these types of situations have been reported in the country. Medical professionals are also pushing for control because, although these fillers are designed to improve aesthetics, they are still medical procedures.

“Dermal fillers, Botox and other injections are still medical interventions the effects of these treatments last much longer than some fashion fads,” said Dr. Mayli Davis, a Colleyville, Texas, cosmetic physician and ophthalmologist.

Other medical professionals in Britain tout the increased demand for dermal fillers as a “worrying trend” that should be regulated.

Some believe the reason for the increased demand can be linked to social media.

“A similar situation persists in the United States,” Davis said.

In 2018, a Journal of the American Medical Association Facial Plastic Surgery article said the increased demand for cosmetic procedures can be linked to social media, as many patients are taking their selfies and SnapChat filters into their consultations.

“Many individuals want to look better in their selfies and online images,” Davis said.

Save Face, a U.K. organization made up of accredited cosmetic practitioners, said complaints about dermal filler injections in Wales alone nearly quadrupled over the past four years.

In 2017-18, the organization reported that there were 132 complaints about dermal filler injections in the country, compared to just 36 in 2015-16.

The most significant number of dermal filler complaints were among 18- to 25-year-olds.

“Many dermal filler patients are millennials or younger, as they want to ward off any sign of aging from settling in,” Davis said.

The director of Save Face said dermal fillers have become so commonplace or trivialized that many people are seeking out a cheap deal to get the look they want.

Discount Botox parties are popping up all over Wales, and these injections are being performed in parking lots, alleyways, cars and garages.

Save Face also reports that some individuals even share syringes.

Since Wales and the rest of the U.K. lack licensing for the procedure, getting help if things go wrong can be difficult.

In 2017, the Welsh government did not include dermal fillers and their practitioners in a bill that required tattoo artists and piercers to fulfill health and training requirements before being able to perform injections.

“You should only seek dermal filler injections from those who are licensed and trained to perform the procedure, and follow all post-operative care instructions,” Davis said.

Source: BBC News. Lip fillers: ‘Perfect storm’ due to lack of regulation. 28 March 2019.