A doctor is warning about a spike in young people influenced by Love Island contestants’ cosmetic treatments after noticing a surge in new consultation requests last year. Dr Nyla, founder of the celeb-adored Medispa, says requests will specifically come in during the hours of 9-11pm when the show airs on ITV2.

‘In the morning I would check new customer consultation requests and noticed a clear increase in requests between 9 pm and 11 pm for lip, cheek, jaw, and tear trough filler,’ Dr Nyla tells Grazia. ‘I would say 40% of new patient requests were received during these two hours over the summer.’

Not only that, but new patients will specifically ask for a certain contestants look when discussing the type of changes, they wish to make. ‘This is worrying to me as I believe all treatments should always be tailored to your facial structure,’ explains Dr Nyla. ‘When I see patients requesting procedures they don’t need or altering their natural beauty to look like what they see on social media or TV is heart-breaking.’

For those of us monitoring Love Island’s influence over the years, the news is perhaps unsurprising. In January 2020, Grazia explored the so-called ‘Love Island face’ – a specific array of cosmetic tweakments including Botox, cheek, and lip filler that’s typically worth around £2.5k – which doctors say is more desirable to patients these days than emulating A-listers.

Many aesthetics practitioners have capitalised on that, says Dr Nyla. ‘I’ve had to rectify patients’ cosmetic work carried out by inexperienced practitioners who take advantage of their vulnerable situations where their confidence is at rock bottom. The industry isn’t regulated as it should be, which is putting patients at risk.’

The industry is facing increasing regulation though. In October 2021, a Private Members’ Bill was passed banning Botox and dermal fillers for under 18s. It stated that only a doctor, registered medical practitioner, or a health professional may administer such procedures to under 18s and only where there is a medical need.

And in May 2022, the UK government introduced a new licensing scheme as part of the updated Health and Care Act, which consultations are expected to begin on imminently. The scheme is likely to introduce stricter policies for aesthetics training and qualifications to reduce the number of sub-standard treatments being offered in unsafe environments.

In the meantime, Dr Nyla warns the newly influenced to research thoroughly and invest properly in any kind of face-altering treatment. ‘Cosmetic treatments can be expensive but you’re paying for your practitioner’s expertise and knowledge,’ she says. ‘Especially in current times, people are looking at prices and may feel they want to do a cheaper alternative, but health is wealth and if an unqualified practitioner uses unsanitary products and harmful techniques there will be an additional cost of complications on top of the initial, botched treatment.’

Of course, in an ideal world young people wouldn’t be overly influenced by the ‘Love Island face’ – they’d realise individual beauty is just as valuable, and sometimes learning to love your unique features is the best thing you can do for your confidence.