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Durango Congress Unanimously Passes 'Ley Nicole' Banning Cosmetic Surgery for Minors

The measure now awaits publication in Durango’s official gazette before it can be enforced.

Overview

  • The law prohibits cosmetic procedures for anyone under 18 and allows only medically justified reconstructive interventions with specialist medical reports and psychological evaluation.
  • Parents or guardians who permit banned procedures face 4 to 6 years in prison, physicians face 6 to 8 years, and clinics that operate on minors can be closed.
  • Reforms to Article 232 of the state Penal Code increase penalties to 2 to 6 years for falsely claiming medical titles and 4 to 8 years for performing specialized procedures without certification, with additional fines in UMA.
  • Lawmakers approved the package after nearly two months of technical work that included input from medical specialists, the state judiciary and the prosecutor’s office.
  • Named for 14-year-old Paloma Nicole, whose death after aesthetic procedures spurred the initiative, the reform is presented locally as the first state-level ban of its kind in Mexico.