UK Government Plans Clampdown on Unsafe Cosmetic Procedures

The UK government is introducing tough new regulations to crack down on unsafe cosmetic procedures, particularly high-risk treatments like non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs), which will only be performed by qualified healthcare professionals registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). These measures aim to protect the public, especially those under 18, from dangerous beauty trends promoted on social media and from unqualified 'cosmetic cowboys' operating in unsafe environments such as homes, hotels, and pop-up clinics. Clinics administering Botox and fillers will require strict licensing to ensure safety standards. The crackdown responds to incidents of serious complications, permanent scarring, and even deaths caused by untrained practitioners, which have also imposed significant costs on the National Health Service (NHS) for corrective care. Health Minister Karin Smyth emphasized the government's commitment to supporting competent practitioners and safeguarding consumers without restricting access to cosmetic treatments. A public consultation will be launched to determine the range of procedures covered by the new restrictions, with penalties for rule violations to be enforced by regulatory bodies.