The teenagers turning to Botox

They are known as "Botox babies". Teenage girls as young as 14 who are turning to anti-wrinkle treatment Botox.

Plastic surgeons in New York report growing numbers of young girls who want injections to give them supersmooth skin. They believe early treatment will help delay fine lines and wrinkles.

Figures show nose jobs are common among 13-year-olds, while nearly 4,000 breast alterations were performed on girls under 20 in 2003. The numbers so worried the American Society of Plastic Surgeons they have issued a warning against "a disturbing new trend".

It blames reality TV shows such as Extreme Makeover and the flawless appearance of teenage celebrities for making young girls feel unhappy about their appearance.

"Breast implants are not a quick-fix," says the society's president, Dr Robert Jackson. "This major surgery should not be done before a woman is physically and emotionally grown."

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