The UK government has announced long-awaited plans for England to restrict high-risk cosmetic treatments to properly trained professionals by 2027, aiming to eliminate rogue operators and protect patients from severe harm.
Under the proposed regulations set to go through parliament in spring 2027, high-risk non-surgical treatments—such as liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), vampire facials, and deep chemical peels—will be legally defined. Fillers injected into areas other than the face will be classified as cosmetic surgical procedures, restricting them exclusively to doctors. Other high-risk wellbeing treatments will be limited to doctors, dentists, and specifically trained nurses, midwives, and pharmacists.
The overhaul also introduces an outright ban on high-risk cosmetic procedures for underage individuals. Rogue providers who violate the rules will face new criminal offences and fixed fines of up to £4,000.
Currently, England lacks restrictions on who can perform these 'no scalpel' procedures. The lack of oversight has historically allowed untrained operators to carry out treatments in informal settings like Airbnbs, hotel rooms, garden sheds, and public toilets. High-profile complications have fueled years of calls for stricter regulations, including the death of Alice Webb following a liquid BBL, and an incident where Sasha Dean from Bedfordshire was left in a coma after receiving a procedure.
Health Minister Karin Smyth stated that the initiative aims to "drive cosmetic cowboys out of the market" and shield people from treatments "that can go badly wrong." While organizations like the British Beauty Council praised the move, some medical professionals argue the proposals do not go far enough. Mr. Keith Allison from the Royal College of Surgeons of England called the consultation long overdue, warning that ministers must ensure medical licenses do not inadvertently create loopholes in patient protection.
The government is currently gathering feedback on the draft rules from doctors, businesses, regulators, and the public ahead of parliamentary action in 2027. Comparable regulatory steps are also underway elsewhere in the UK, with Scotland having passed laws in March meaning cosmetic procedures must be performed by, or alongside, certain healthcare professionals in a registered setting.
