Life style
Leading cosmetic doctor says under-30s are overdoing Botox and fillers
A leading cosmetic doctor known as the “king of Botox” claims young people have “lost the plot” by overdoing treatments in an attempt to recreate filtered social media aesthetics in real life. He also criticised colleagues, some of whom he said have had so much work done he no longer recognises them, for fuelling the trend.While Botox and fillers were once most popular among older patients seeking discreet anti-ageing solutions, Dr Michael Prager said that a “visibly enhanced” look had become a fashion trend among under-30s who wanted the work to show.
The doctor, who has a clinic in Knightsbridge, London, said there was no longer a stigma in dramatically changing their appearance, with young people viewing physical changes as a “status symbol” tantamount to wearing a designer label. “Generally, anybody under 30 has basically lost the plot,” Prager, 54, said. “They haven’t spent enough time in the playground and they grew up with thumbs in a crooked position in front of a screen and now that’s their life.”
The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on beauty, aesthetics and wellbeing said last year the non-surgical cosmetic treatment industry had undergone “rapid growth”. An estimated 900,000 Botox injections are carried out in the UK each year. The doctor, who has a clinic in Knightsbridge, London, said there was no longer a stigma in dramatically changing their appearance, with young people viewing physical changes as a “status symbol” tantamount to wearing a designer label. “Generally, anybody under 30 has basically lost the plot,” Prager, 54, said. “They haven’t spent enough time in the playground and they grew up with thumbs in a crooked position in front of a screen and now that’s their life.”
Dr Tamara Griffiths, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said there has been “real concern” about the growing numbers of children and teenagers getting Botox-style and dermal filler injections.Last year these cosmetic treatments became illegal for under-18s and this year the government announced a national licensing scheme. But the Labour MP Carolyn Harris, co-chair of the APPG, said the government needed to do more to improve the industry and protect young people, and that they are still waiting for regulations to be brought forward.
The Department of Health and Social Care said an amendment to the Health and Care Act 2022 would give the government powers to bring a national licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures into force in England. “This scheme will make it an offence for anyone in England to carry out specified non-surgical procedures without a licence,” a spokesperson said.
Social media and celebrities, particularly the Kardashians, have played a key role in changing attitudes to cosmetic alterations from being a secret to hide to an openly proud choice.On the TV show Love Island, “tweakments” such as Botox and fillers are popular among its 20-something contestants. cap1
Kylie Jenner, 25, has talked about using lip fillers; Kim Kardashian, 42, has spoken about using Botox and laser treatments; in 2016, Khloé Kardashian, 38, said plastic surgery should be viewed like makeup. The three sisters have almost 100m Instagram followers between them.Supermodel Bella Hadid, 26, who has more than 56m Instagram followers, said she had a nose job at 14. The actor Olivia Colman, 48, has said she loved the effects of Botox.
It’s also gaining traction among men. Former Disney star and singer Joe Jonas, 33, recently appeared in an advert for Botox rival Xeomin.Young people are, Prager claimed, “being overly injected and proud of it”. While many of the practitioners doing the treatments have “injected themselves to a point where in the old world they would have been considered nuts”.
A rise in body dysmorphia disorder (BDD), among practitioners and patients, was fuelling the trend, he said. Such was the transformation that some practitioners had become unrecognisable. “I’ve known some of these people for 20 years,” he said.Dr Darren McKeown, a British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) board member who has studied the psychological outcomes of cosmetic interventions, said BDD was “relatively common” among such patients. He said it could be present in up to 10% of those seeking treatment, with up to 80% of BDD patients dissatisfied with the outcome.
So far this year, 8% of BCAM member patients were aged 18 to 24, with the majority aged between 35 and 60. They performed 282,960 filler procedures last year – a 100% rise on the previous 12 months. The increased number of cosmetic treatments among young people are largely taking place in unregulated beauty salons by unqualified practitioners, said McKeown, who is concerned about the “prolific use of dermal fillers” in this group.
“A lot of people would like to have their own screen filter version to actually resemble what they see in the mirror,” said Prager, who has appeared on the TV show 10 Years Younger. “I think that’s what they’re after.”Ekin-Su Culculoglu was a winner of ITV’s Love Island show this year on which ‘tweakments’ were popular with contestants.
While the trend was “neither condemnable nor applaudable”, he said, the gulf between self-perception and reality was widening. “What they perceive of themselves no longer resembles what we look at.”
While momentum for more overt cosmetic alterations has been building for some time, lockdown had a huge effect, encouraging comparisons with others during unflattering Zoom calls and affecting people’s mental health. “I now see visibly enhanced modified people on television, that it’s no longer a stigma. It’s actually a fashion trend, like tattoos.”
In the past, he said, the dominant desired aesthetic for those seeking cosmetic alterations was to “look halfway normal”. But now, he added: “It’s almost a status symbol to show that work has been done. There is no longer the need to hide it, in actual fact it’s more of a designer label.”
It was particularly popular with younger patients, he said, who had been “thrown off the rails” by Covid lockdowns.Younger people on a budget could be vulnerable to badly done fillers, he said, and driven to use backstreet practitioners. “Yes, they’re being pushed into something, but what are you going to do? Tell them ‘no don’t do it’?”
Recalling the “Paris lip” of the late 90s and the “Jessica Rabbit” look of the 2000s, he said the move towards radical transformation was not something that should be changed by stricter regulation. “Change is to come in many different ways, but it’s ultimately inside your head.”he singer Joe Jonas recently appeared in an advert for Botox rival Xeomin as such treatments gain mainstream traction with men. Photograph: Jordan Strauss/Invision
The sector had changed so much that he no longer wanted to be associated with it. “The cosmetic industry, it’s gone beyond.”
Prager said he was not bothered by people’s personal choices, but irritated by how trends changed the way his profession was viewed, making it “very difficult to be taken seriously as a cosmetic medical practitioner”.
He would “still hold a candle for Botox”, he said. “Overall, it’s a fantastic medical useful treatment. The same applies to fillers. It has a huge amount of benefits.”
But, Prager warned, administration is key. “You have to be careful who sits at the other end of the needle.”
– The guardian
Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka
The 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka Chapter was held recently at the Ramada Hotel Colombo,.The event provided an evening of camaraderie , reflection of the past and present achievements,setting new benchmarks for the future
The AGM had the presence of two distinguished guests, the Chief Guest Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and the Guest of Honour British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. Their inspiring speeches were lauded by all hoteliers who were present at the occasion
A special thanks was extended to Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality UK, along with his team, sponsors, committee members, and all attendees for making the event memorable.
Dr. Harsha Jayasingh, Past President of the Institute of Hospitality (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter, emphasised the Institute’s longstanding history and the strength of its Sri Lankan branch. “The Institute of Hospitality (IH) UK has a history of 86 years, and we are proud to be the Sri Lanka Branch. IH Sri Lanka is much stronger now with many members from all areas of the hospitality industry,” he stated.
Dr. Jayasingh highlighted the significant role of tourism in Sri Lanka’s economy,. He said tourism it is the third-largest source of revenue for the country. “Tourism accounts for about 13.3% of total foreign exchange earnings and employs 450,000 people directly and indirectly. The hospitality industry in this island of pearl holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creations, and cultural exchange,” he added.
He also pointed out more women should be attracted to the industry and advocated for the use of technology in hospitality sector to attract the younger generation.
The newly appointed Chairman Ramesh Dassanayake spoke about the challenges faced by the industry, including the reluctance of youth to join the sector. . Dassanayake expressed concerns over the migration of staff between hotels and the overall ‘brain drain’ in the sector. ” We must maintain high standards in the hotel We must try to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, we must have with many facilities Hence, hotel schools and other professional institutions involved in skills development mustincrease their intakes,” he pointed out.
Chief Guest Sajith Premadasa emphasised the importance of eco tourism and said “We need to have an environmental policy related to tourism in place,” . .
The 32nd AGM of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Sri Lanka Chapter, was a testament to the strength and potential of Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. The insights and commitments shared during the event set a new benchmark for the future.(ZC)
Pix by Thushara Attapathu
Life style
He recognizes human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
Visit of Sri Gurudev to Sri Lanka
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and Global Ambassador of Peace Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Sri Gurudev) was in Sri Lanka on a three day tour on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunewardene. Gurudev who inspired a wave of volunteerism and service to moot one of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world – The Art of Living – visited the various projects under the aegis of the foundation and launched twelve vocational and technical centers around the island. He was accompanied by thousands of followers from Sri Lanka and around the world.
Gurudev who visited Sri Lanka for the sixth time also had a first day cover launched in honour of his visit. He is a strong proponent of spreading happiness, using the unique Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, meditation and practical wisdom to unite people, empower individuals and transform communities. His programmes provide techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life, while his non-profit organisations recognize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
The Art of Living which has more than 30,000 teachers and over one million volunteers across 180 countries has touched in excess of five hundred million people around the world. CNN called it “Life Changing” and The Washington Post headlined it, “Fresh air to millions”.
In Trincomalee, Gurudev met with war victims and had a heartwarming engagement with the children from the children’s homes run by the Foundation. He also visited the Koneswara Temple in Trincomalee and graced the Kumbhabhishekam at Seetha ecogPnize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion. Amman temple at Nuwara Eliya. He held discussions with the trustees on the progress of the foundation’s social service projects, while also holding a special event – Ekamuthuwa – attended by a large number of dignitaries and his devotees from around the world.
His time with the Prime Minister was spent discussing the prospects of unity in diversity and uniting Sri Lanka by adding happiness into the formula of living. In addition he had discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, prominent business stewards and civil society leaders.
by Zanita Careem
Envison your dream wedding day come to life at the Epitome Hotel, a prestigious city hotel in Kurunegala offering an unrivalled luxury rendors experience for weddings.
The venue is designed to embody opulence and luxury from all quarters for a spectacular wedding in kurunegala,Thier ballroom is the largest banquet facility in Sri Lanka It can be divided into six luxurious pillarless wedding halls on the ground floor and 25pax smaller banquet halls.
It can be easily named as a five star heaven in the heart of the city contributing to a myriad of immense experiences tailored to inspire and delight wedding experiences.
From opulent décor set up to exquisite table decor, lavish food, every detail is meticulously curated to spark your imagination and ignite creativity for a perfect wedding. The previous prestigious wedding shows season one and season two attracted large crowds
were unique events which gave the wedding vendors and potential clients had an opportunity to connect and interact with each other. Beyond being a showcase it was a chance for the wedding vendors to unite and contribute to the vibrancy of the wedding industry. The wedding show covered all area of the bridal industry providing a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became the most popular bridal exhibitions in Kurunegala.This bridal exhibitions allowed brides and grooms to experience first hand the products and services available from suppliers in Sri Lanka
These wedding shows held at The Epitome created a benchmark and gave an opportunity for vendors to create connections to the utmost satisfaction said Harshan Lakshita Executive Director. of the magnificent Hotel
Our wedding shows featured experts and professionals in every field‘ It covered all areas of the bridal industry provided a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became most popular bridal exhibition in this region.We are always open to everyone to join us at our wedding shows in the future. It is an opportunity to discover the incredible talent within our local wedding and bridal vendors to make meaningful relationships and plan thier special day at our breathtaking hotel The Epitome said General Manager Kavinda Caldera
The Epitome Hotel’s bridal show which will be held end of June will buzz with great ideas,advice and inspiration for all those who plan thier dream wedding
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The Hotel Epitome’s Wedding Season 3 will marked excellence, celebration and inspiration for those in the wedding industry. The exhibition halls will resonate with ideas on exquisite bridal wear to decor, florists , photography etc and showshowcase the rich tapestry of talent within the local wedding industry. .
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