In early October Liverpool was named the “Botox capital of the world” when it was revealed there were more Google searches by people looking for treatment here than in any other city. Tony McDonough reports

Young people in Liverpool are putting their health and looks at risk paying for Botox and lip filler treatment from poorly-trained practitioners, one expert claims.

In early October Liverpool was named the “Botox capital of the world” when it was revealed there were more Google searches by people looking for treatment here than in any other city.

Now entrepreneur Tracey Bell, who runs well-established cosmetic dentistry and aesthetics clinics in Liverpool and the Isle of Man, says more needs to be done to protect young people from the unscrupulous operators.

She said: “There’s been a huge surge in demand for Botox and fillers, especially from younger people in Liverpool, in recent years.

“And with the city being named as the ‘Botox capital of the world’, we need to start doing more to protect young people from harm.

“As a rapid increase in demand for these treatments has driven down price, some people are trusting anyone – from back street beauticians to friends – to administer products they’ve bought online.

“Then if something goes wrong, they don’t know what to do.”

Ms Bell recently hit the headlines nationwide after a young woman who’d ended up in hospital for a week following cut price lip fillers enlisted her help to try and restore her smile.

She said at the time: “I am seeing at least one patient every day who has a problem with lip fillers and needs corrective treatment. That’s how big the problem is now, it’s like a timebomb.”

Ms Bell urges people to do proper research on any practitioner before committing to treatment and is also calling for tighter regulation for the aesthetics sector.