TOUGH new measures to crack down on cowboy cosmetic procedures that have left people maimed, injured and in need of urgent NHS care will be introduced by the government.  

Only qualified healthcare professionals will be able to perform the highest risk procedures – such as non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts.  

These must be done by specialised healthcare workers working in providers that are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 

The planned crackdown follows a series of incidents where people have had high-risk treatments from people with little or no medical training, leading to dangerous complications, permanent scarring and even death. These new rules will protect people from unqualified, rogue operators and reduce the cost to the NHS of fixing botched procedures. 

The new measures follow growing alarm over unqualified individuals performing invasive treatments in unsafe environments—including homes, hotels, and pop-up clinics. Many of these procedures are marketed as non-surgical but, in reality, are invasive and carry serious risks.  

Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said: - “The cosmetics industry has been plagued by a Wild West of dodgy practitioners and procedures. There are countless horror stories of cosmetic cowboys causing serious, catastrophic damage. This government is taking action to protect those seeking treatments, support honest and competent practitioners, and root out the cowboys as part of our Plan for Change.  This isn’t about stopping anyone from getting treatments - it’s about preventing rogue operators from exploiting people at the expense of their safety and keeping people safe. We’re giving them peace of mind and reducing the cost to the NHS of fixing botched procedures.”

Other lower risk cosmetic treatments - including Botox, lip fillers and facial dermal fillers - will also come under stricter oversight through a new local authority licensing system. Practitioners will be required to meet rigorous safety, training, and insurance standards before they can legally operate.  Once regulations are introduced, practitioners who break the rules on the highest risk procedures will be subject to CQC enforcement and financial penalties.

The government also plans to bring in restrictions for under 18s on high-risk cosmetic procedures, unless authorised by a healthcare professional. 

Through our Plan for Change the government is determined to bolster patient safety. These changes will ensure consumers can be confident the treatment they receive is safe and of a high standard. It will also provide business with better protections, enabling reputable and safe providers to be easily identifiable to patients.   

Priority will be given to introducing regulations to restrict the highest risk procedures first – such as fillers injected into breasts and genitals. A public consultation will be published early next year. This will seek views on the range of procedures which should be covered in the new restrictions.   

While the measures are being developed, the government urges anyone considering a cosmetic procedure to check their provider’s qualifications and insurance, and to avoid treatments that appear suspiciously cheap. 

Millie Kendall OBE. Chief Executive Officer, British Beauty Council said:- “The Council has worked tirelessly in pushing for increased regulation of the aesthetics sector since its inception. I therefore fully welcome the Government’s announcement that it is pushing forward with legislation. Any measures that increase protection for the general public and professionalise the industry will help instil confidence as well as helping to prevent the normalisation of horror stories that have become synonymous with our sector. We will work closely with relevant government stakeholders to ensure these measures are implemented in a way that ensures the sustained, and safe, growth of our sector. This is the 1st step forward in raising the reputation of our £30.4bn industry.”