For as long as we have existed as a campaign and organisation, protecting consumer safety, we can safely state that there has never been regulation in the UK, as to who can carry out aesthetic treatments such as botox or filler injections. It may come as a surprise, to many, but to us it is not.

The sheer volume of botched cosmetic procedures we see every month are rising year on year, but let’s face it botched procedures are now everywhere, to the point that as well as our campaign established in 2013, many organisations and clinicians have been campaigning for official industry regulation and a standard of qualifications for practitioners to carry out these treatments.

However after many years of campaigning we are delighted to say that the UK government announced  last week that they will be cracking down on cosmetic practitioners working without a license, this comes after a period of intense criss point in the industry where the amount of botched treatments have resulted in the government now stating it is “unacceptable”. Under proposed new laws, speculative talks indicate that individuals who administer non-surgical cosmetic treatments may possibly have to have a license, this system may be implemented in a bid to reduce the number of “cosmetic cowboys”.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid concurs, “While most of those in the aesthetics industry follow good practice when it comes to patient safety, far too many people have been left emotionally and physically scarred after botched cosmetic procedures,” he said. “We’re doing all we can to protect patients from potential harm, but I urge anyone considering a cosmetic procedure to take the time to think about the impact on both their physical and mental health and ensure they are using a reputable, safe and qualified practitioner.”

The changes to the Health and Care legislation were put forward in parliament on 2nd March, and include consistent standards for those who carry out the treatments, as well as a list of safety and hygiene standards for premises. Details of the new licensing regulations will be “determined via extensive engagement including a public consultation,” said the department.