It follows ongoing consultation and engagement with the British Beauty Council, which has consistently called for greater public protection and the professionalisation of the aesthetics industry.
UK Government confirms crackdown on unsafe cosmetic procedures
Sophie Smith
07 August 2025
The Department of Health and Social Care is moving ahead with plans to better regulate the aesthetic and non-invasive procedures sector.
This morning, the UK Government committed to ensuring that only suitably qualified healthcare professionals will be permitted to carry out high-risk procedures, such as Brazilian Butt Lifts.
It also confirmed plans to introduce a licensing scheme for clinics offering treatments like Botox and dermal fillers, alongside new age restrictions aimed at protecting young people from accessing certain procedures.
The announcement comes amid growing demand for aesthetic and non-invasive procedures. According to the British Beauty Council, consumer spending on beauty services - including, but not limited to, these treatments - rose to £10.1 billion, marking a 15% year-on-year increase.
Additionally, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reported that 27,462 procedures were performed in 2024 alone.
Following today’s announcement, the Government will be "working quickly" to ensure that the highest-risk procedures are brought under regulation as a priority.
In the longer term, it will continue to develop licensing and legislation around lower-risk procedures.
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."
Millie Kendall OBE, CEO at the British Beauty Council, said: "I am pleased to hear of the Government's commitment to regulating and licensing the aesthetics sector following its consultation.
"The council is dedicated to ensuring that people can engage with beauty safely; people should be able to look and feel as they please without the threat of something going wrong. Any measures to protect this safety are highly welcomed, so that risks are mitigated at every stage of treatment or procedure.
"We will be working closely with the Government and the industry to ensure the outcomes of the consultation are implemented in a way that professionalises our industry and sustains growth."
Since its inception, the British Beauty Council has called for legislation which safeguards those administering procedures safely and legitimately.
This has previously led to the banning of Botox and fillers for those under-18 years old via the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act in 2021 and the more recent legislation banning remote prescribing of injectable cosmetic products.
The council will continue to work closely with the Department of Social Care to ensure that any regulation introduced is "fit for purpose and will not stifle the highly skilled practitioners in the industry whilst also protecting the general public".
It will also work to ensure that practitioners who safely administer procedures are well-prepared for any upcoming changes to their working practices.
