The government has launched a consultation to permit only qualified healthcare experts to carry out complex cosmetic procedures, and penalise 'cosmetic cowboys'.
Under the new rules only qualified healthcare experts can do cosmetic procedures, including liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), vampire facials and chemical peels.
Only doctors will be allowed to performs cosmetic surgical procedures such as fillers injected into parts of the body other than the face, including liquid BBLs.
High-risk non-surgical or wellbeing treatments, including deep chemical peels, vampire facials, dermal micro-coring and some laser procedures would be restricted to doctors, dentists, some nurses, midwives and pharmacists who have completed an accredited training course.
The government aims to bar ill-qualified practitioners working out of hotel rooms performing high-risk procedures without regulatory oversight.
Those flouting the proposals will face legal action and heavy fines.
Minors barred
The new rules would stop under 18s from having risky cosmetic or wellbeing treatments.
The government is launching a consultation to ask clinicians, regulators, businesses, the public and other experts for their say on the draft regulations before plans go through the Parliamentary process, which is currently planned for spring 2027.
Botox clinics
Separate to the consultation, the government remains committed to implementing a licensing scheme to ensure that clinics delivering botulinum toxin products (more commonly known as Botox), lip filler and other lower-risk treatments meet strict safety standards, putting an end to backyard Botox clinics.
The new crackdown follows a string of reports of rogue, unregulated surgeries and procedures being carried out by unqualified practitioners, putting patients at serious risk of harm or even death.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said: "If you’re planning to undergo a major cosmetic procedure, you deserve to know you’re in safe hands - not risking your life with a rogue operator.
"These changes mean that only properly trained professionals can carry out the most serious, high-risk procedures, and that young people will be shielded from treatments that can go badly wrong.
"We want to drive cosmetic cowboys out of the market and raise standards across the board, giving reputable businesses a fair chance to thrive by helping people identify safe, qualified providers they can trust."
Victoria Brownlie, Chief Policy and Sustainability Officer at the British Beauty Council, said: "Over a number of years, the line between a beauty treatment and a medical procedure has blurred. A lack of regulation in what has become a booming market has led to an exploitation of these gaps, placing members of the public at serious risk.
"I believe this is a vital step towards the required regulation and commend the government for tackling this issue head-on."
