While botox and filler are booming in Europe, many people don’t realise the consequences on their travel plans.
ADVERTISEMENTTravelling is turning into a nightmare for people with beauty enhancements like botox and filler.
The issue became public a year ago when TikTok influencer Joanne Prophet reported being pulled into a room for “about an hour” in Türkiye by six airport security officers.
This, she said, occurred after airport security told her her passport photo, valid for 10 years and taken before she underwent plastic surgery and cosmetic fillers, did not match her current appearance.
Since the photographs were taken, Joanne has had breast implants, dental veneers, chin and lip filler, a nose job and fat dissolving injections. Her hair has also transformed, from platinum blonde to long ash-blonde with extensions.
Botox and filler could lead to travel delays and added expenses
“You need to get this rectified because it looks nothing like you and is probably why you keep getting pulled,” Manchester Airport security staff told Joanne when she landed.
Even though her passport was due to expire a year later, Joanne had to pay for a new one.
Joanne’s testimony triggered several comments from other people, most of them women, who reported similar experiences at airports all over the world.
“The Turkish immigration cameras at passport control pick up the slightest change - I’ve only had my nose done and they constantly question,” one woman commented on TikTok.
“Considering it’s where a lot of people fly for surgery they need to fix that,” Joanne replied.
Other women also reported having had similar experiences in Cape Verde and Singapore, with one saying they “had to pull up pictures from before filler” while being interrogated.
Travel experts warn of problems with botox and facial recognition technology
Following this, travel experts have started tackling the subject head-on, warning travellers that they need to be careful before taking a plane.
Especially now with biometric technology and facial recognition increasingly used for passport control, significant facial changes may lead to questions about your identity.
According to holiday provider Travel Republic, facial recognition problems at airports are now relatively common and can result in delays and even cancellations.
“Airport computers use the distance between the pupils, ears, nose and mouth, the mouth and the eyes' width, and many others," Karolina Turowska, a biometric photography and travel expert for Passport-Photo online told Buzzfeed.
The holiday provider even issued a reminder to tourists who underwent facial enhancements that they need to have a passport photo resembling their current appearance.
ADVERTISEMENTWhen is it necessary to update your passport photo?
In Europe, both botox and filler are becoming increasingly popular, with their respective markets expected to grow at 4.8 per cent and 6.3 per cent by 2030, according to market researcher Fortune Business Insights.
But people don’t always realise the consequences of these facial changes on their travel plans.
“Generally, minor changes like a new hairstyle, growing a beard, or slight weight fluctuations don't require a new passport,” says Gemma Brown, head of product at Travel Republic. “However, when undergoing major facial reconstruction or cosmetic procedures that alter your core facial features, it’s recommended that you update your passport photo to ensure your identification remains accurate.”
If you had surgery recently and need to take a plane, your last resort option could also be asking your doctor to write a note explaining the reasons why you might look different than your passport photo, experts say.
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