Watch the Q&A with PSA Chair Caroline Corby
Watch the video or, if you prefer, you can also read the transcript below.
Read through the Q&A below
Q: Why are non-surgical cosmetic procedures a growing concern?
A: Non-surgical cosmetic procedures have become increasingly popular across the UK in recent years, with treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels and laser therapy now more widely available.
Q: What risks have emerged as demand has increased?
A: As demand has grown, so have reports of botched procedures and unsafe practices. Treatments are sometimes administered not in clinics, but in beauty salons or even private homes. Although more men are seeking treatment, women continue to make up the majority of consumers, possibly influenced by intense societal pressure around female appearance.
Q: Why is stronger regulation needed?
A: Although the use of these treatments has increased sharply, the regulatory response has been slow. Harmful stereotypes or judgements about why people undergo these procedures should not influence decisions about safety. If a procedure carries a high risk, there should be adequate protections in place to keep consumers safe.
Q: Do socio-economic factors affect consumer safety?
A: They may do. Wealthier people may be able to afford treatments carried out by fully qualified medical professionals, while people with less money may seek cheaper options that are more likely to be unregulated, increasing their risk of harm.
Q: What can happen when procedures are carried out by inadequately trained practitioners?
A: Until more robust regulation is introduced, practitioners without approved qualifications or sufficient training can legally perform procedures that may put consumers at risk. Potential harms include allergic reactions, severe infections, permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Q: How long have concerns about these procedures existed?
A: Concerns are long standing. The 2013 Keogh Review, commissioned after the PIP breast implant scandal, found that non-surgical interventions were a crisis waiting to happen because of the lack of regulation, training standards and patient protection. Thirteen years later, in 2026, very few of its recommendations have been implemented, and there are still no mandatory requirements for those carrying out even the highest-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Q: Are there any accredited organisations working in this field?
A: Yes. Two organisations accredited by the Professional Standards Authority hold registers of practitioners providing non-surgical cosmetic procedures: the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners and Save Face. Accreditation gives consumers reassurance that practitioners on these registers are held to high standards of professional practice and are subject to robust complaints mechanisms. However, awareness of accreditation remains patchy, and membership of these registers is voluntary.
Q: Is progress being made?
A: Yes. Although progress has been slow, it now feels as though things are beginning to shift in some parts of the UK.
Q: What protections are in place for under-18s?
A: Cosmetic injectables were banned for under-18s in England in 2021 and in Scotland in 2026. However, these services are still available for under-18s in Wales and Northern Ireland, so further action is needed in those countries.
Q: What did the Women and Equalities Committee recommend?
A: In February 2026, the Committee warned that regulation had failed to keep pace with the sector’s expansion and that the Government was moving too slowly. It recommended a licensing system for lower-risk procedures, immediate restriction of high-risk procedures such as liquid breast augmentation to qualified and regulated medical professionals, and regulatory alignment across all UK nations.
What is happening around the UK?
Q: What is happening in England?
A: The UK Government has recently announced its intention to introduce a licensing scheme for practitioners in England, alongside further legal safeguards for cosmetic procedures posing the highest risks. A consultation on draft regulations is expected soon, with next steps on licensing to be taken forward within the current parliament.
Q: What is happening in Scotland?
A: In May 2026, the Non-Surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Act received Royal Assent. The Act regulates higher-risk procedures such as Botox and fillers, requiring them to be performed by a registered healthcare professional in clinics. A further piece of legislation, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Non-surgical Procedures) Order 2026, has also been passed and will introduce a licensing regime for lower-risk treatments. However, the new licensing rules will not be fully enforced until September 2027.
Q: What is happening in Wales and Northern Ireland?
A: In Wales, the new Plaid Cymru Government has made no explicit commitments on regulation in this area as far as we are aware. There also do not appear to be any active plans in Northern Ireland.
Q: Why does regulatory alignment across the UK matter?
A: While progress in England and Scotland is welcome, without a similar approach in Wales and Northern Ireland there is a real risk of cross-border cosmetic tourism. Consumers in those countries may remain at greater risk if protections are not aligned across the UK.
Q: What should consumers do while regulation and licensing are still being developed?
A: Consumers can better protect themselves by using practitioners on a Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register, such as the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practice and Save Face.
Q: What is the overall message?
A: The risks arising from non-surgical cosmetic interventions are real and harm is being caused. Progress is being made in some parts of the UK, but stronger and more consistent regulation across all nations would help minimise risks and better protect consumers.
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