One in six (16%) said they had shared sexually explicit material about themselves online with four in five saying they had regretted it, according to the poll of 1,250 teenage girls aged 13 to 16 and 1,250 women from their mothers’ generation.

More than four in 10 (42%) of the teenage girls aged 13 to 16 admitted they had missed out on real life experiences because of the time spent on social media, of whom four-fifths said they regretted it.

Ash Mosahebi, UCL professor of plastic surgery and honorary secretary of BAAPS association of plastic surgeons, said he was very concerned girls under 18 were having surgery without medical justification and before they were mature enough to make such an important decision.

BAAPS has non-statutory regulations that under 18s should not be treated without a medical or functional justification. “Cosmetic surgery purely for enhancing appearance should not be done to girls of that age. It concerns me and I would want to know who is doing it and where it is being done,” he said.

“There’s no doubt that social media has had an impact on demand particularly when it comes to the face, legs and eyes. It’s peer pressure in online groups and with people’s followers.”

Dr Jon Goldin, a vice-chair with the Royal College of Psychiatrists said: “We must acknowledge the impact social media is having on the lives of 13-16 year old girls and the pressure it puts them under to have an ‘ideal’ body and to conform to perceived images of beauty. This is even more concerning as they have not yet reached adulthood.

“We need more research to shine a light on the benefits and harms of internet and social media. The College believes social media firms should be made to invest some of their profits to fund this work.”