Has filler and Botox 'aged' the Love Island stars? Experts guess at the cosmetic tweaks they may have had... and reveal why they are making them look OLDER
Age shaming is rife in this summer's series of Love Island, with viewers claiming Botox and filler has made the contestants look much older than their years.
In comparison to previous series where cast members have been as young as 19, this year the youngest man is Ciaran Davies 21, and the youngest women are 24.
But viewers have been quick to claim cast members look many years older than this — blaming the cosmetic procedures they may have had before the show.
'I didn't realise how much Botox and filler can age you', viewer Meg Reilly said on TikTok. Another social media user, Jack Mac, said: 'What is going on, is this all Botox and filler.'
Plastic surgeons and aesthetic practitioners have also warned unnecessary 'tweakments' in your early 20s can age the skin and cause you to lose 'volume'.
Nicole Samuel, 24, an accounts manager from Aberdare is a contestant on Love Island 2024
Samantha Kenny, 26, from Liverpool, who was dumped in episode 16 of Love Island 2024
Jess White from Stockport, 25, who was dumped in episode 38 (left). Harriet Blackmore, 24, from Brighton , who was dumped in episode 26 (right)
The female contestants who are come under the most scrutiny are Nicole Samuel, 24, Jess White, 25, Harriet Blackmore, 24, and Samantha Kenny, 26.
Dr Daniel Barrett, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon was asked to guess if these Love Island contestants were 'natural' or not and predict their ages in a video on TikTok.
He suggested that most of the islander's had Botox, which is a brand name for botulinum toxin, a cosmetic injection used to relax the muscles in the face to smooth out lines and wrinkles.
The surgeon, who has 2.4million followers on the app, predicted Jess was 38 — 13 years older than she is — and 'had work done' on her 'lips and nose'.
He also suggested Harriet was 42 — 18 years older than she is — and guessed she had work on her cheeks, lips and nose, as well as, having Botox, fake lashes and brows.
The surgeon also thought Nicole was 35 — 11 years more than her actual age — and that she had 'a little filler' and Botox.
Dr Barrett also judged the age of Samantha as 32 — ageing her by six years — and suggested she has had filler in her lips and cheeks, dental veneers and a rhinoplasty (nose job).
Dr Daniel Barrett, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon was asked to guess if they were 'natural' or not and predict their ages in a video posted to TikTok. He thought Nicole was 35 and that she had 'a little filler' and Botox
The surgeon who has 2.4million followers on TikTok, predicted Jess was 38 and 'had work done' on her 'lips and nose'. But he was shocked when it was revealed she is 25
In another video, Meg Reilly, who has more than 38,000 followers on TikTok, confessed she was 'gobsmacked'.
'I am 26, I have not had any filler any Botox, nothing like that. Why are 90 per cent of the girls younger than me, but I genuinely thought they were older.
'This is no hate to the girls, but wow I didn't realise how much Botox and filler can age you.'
Social media user Savanah Caswell, who has 11,057 followers on TikTok, posted a video showing her watching Love Island with the caption: 'Every year I question how I am the same age as Love Island contestants when I Look 12.'
She added: 'Sorry but how are they in their twenties'.
Meg Reilly, who has more than 38,000 followers on TikTok, confesses she is 'gobsmacked' and was surprised filler and Botox could age the skin
Social media user Savanah Caswell, who has 11,057 followers on TikTok posted a video showing her watching Love Island with the caption: 'Every year I question how I am the same age as Love Island contestants when I Look 12'
Experts said it is possible that badly done or inappropriately applied Botox and filler could be to blame for these signs of aging.
Simon Thorpe, an advanced aesthetics practitioner at Thames Valley Aesthetics in Berkshire, says he usually discourages patients in their early 20s from getting Botox which can end up giving patients a 'frozen' look.
He told MailOnline that too much filler can just result in it needing to be dissolved at a later date, which can cause signs of ageing.
'Over filled lips often need dissolving, which can also involve dissolving your native tissue in the process,' he warned.
'The same applies to dissolving cheek, chin, and jawline filler. This can result in losing volume and requiring repeated treatment.'
Another fan, @_vidking21, who has 4,535 followers on TikTok, also posted a video showing the female cast members with the caption: 'How are these girls in their 20's they look older'
Fans were savage as they took to Twitter to poke fun at the contestants ages
He added: 'Over-treatment can result in creating unwanted additional signs of age, normally when it wears off. I have seen a lot of cases where people don’t want to return to their original practitioner because things went so wrong.
'Generally, in the hands of an experienced medical injector this is not going likely to happen. I can only speak from my personal experiences, but over six years and thousands of patients I have only seen this happen due to poor practice.'
If done by a skilled practitioner Botox and fillers do not age a younger face, in fact, they can prevent the early formation of fine lines and wrinkles, Shenaz Sharrif, the founder of the Face and Body Clinic London, claims.
But when it is done 'improperly' it can lead to 'unnatural results or even accelerate the appearance of ageing,' she told this website.
'It’s when you overuse these treatments such as filler and Botox that can potentially lead to an unnatural appearance and may require more maintenance over time.
'Since the skin in the early 20’s is typically still very resilient and has the natural ability to recover and maintain its youthful look, only minor interventions are usually needed.'
Instead she advises young people to just focus on a 'robust skincare routine' which includes using sun protection, staying hydrated and living a healthy lifestyle.
'I'd say it is extremely likely they have undergone numerous common cosmetic procedures pre-island life,' says plastic surgeon Dr Fadi Hamadari.
'For example, Harriet's face appears slimmer and more lifted and contoured, which could be due to weight loss, but it's also likely she's had aesthetic treatments.'
He suggests Harriet might have had treatments that use radiofrequency and micro-needling to simulate collagen and improve skin texture.
In addition, Dr Hamadari suggested she also may have had a rhinoplasty and non-surgical treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers to reduce wrinkles and enhance facial contours.
He said: 'It's important to note that while cosmetic procedures can enhance certain features, they can also sometimes lead to an older appearance if not done judiciously.'
Viewers have also shared their disbelief on Twitter at the contestants ages. In particular, Ciaran Davies from Pencoed in South Wales surprised fans when he revealed he was 21
Viewers thought Ronnie Vint looked older than his age after he claimed to be 27
It's not just the female Love Island contestants causing a stir with their perceived versus actual age.
Viewers have also shared their disbelief about Ciaran Davies from Pencoed in South Wales who surprised Love Island fans when he revealed he was 21.
One wrote: '21 and settle down? pls get this baby off my screen. 42 at 18?!'; '21?????''; '21!?!?! This guy looks 32'; 'That man is not 21?!'
Another wrote: 'Oh no not another baby from wales'; 'Ciaran a baby so he’s not my man but he’s the cutest one'; '21?!? nah I need to see his birth certificate'.
'Sorry did he say 21??????? As in born in 2003??? so he’s not 30????'
Viewers also thought Ronnie Vint, who was dumped in episode 26, looked older than the 27 he claimed to be.
Accusing him of being in his 30s or even 40s, they wrote: 'ronnie looks 40 years old'; 'What’s Ronnie doing there? He’s in his 40s surely?'
'27 yea?'; 'Ronnie looks 30 yikes'; 'I reckon Ronnie is late 30's at best, early 40's at worst'.
