The government is cracking down on ‘botched’ botox and filler

This comes after the government banned under-18s from receiving botox and fillers

Right now, in the UK, you don’t legally need a license to perform cosmetic procedures, such as botox or filler injections. It may come as a surprise, but it probably doesn’t;  botched cosmetic procedures are everywhere, to the point that respected clinicians have been campaigning for official industry regulation and qualification standards for these non-surgical procedures — something that doesn’t exist currently.

This may not be the case for much longer. The UK government has announced that they will be cracking down on cosmetic practitioners without a license after what they have described as an “unacceptable” rise in botched jobs. Under proposed new laws, individuals who administer non-surgical cosmetic treatments will have to have a license in a bid to reduce the number of “cosmetic cowboys” per Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

“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 forth in parliament on 2nd March, and include consistent standards for those who carry out the treatments, as well as a slew 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.

This comes after a law last year that banned under-18s from getting botox and fillers. It also prohibitied all adverts on the subject from targeting the cohort.

They are both changes that were wholeheartedly welcomed by the UK beauty industry, who have long called for tighter regulations. Last year, the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC) launched their Make Beauty Safe Campaign, stating that the lack of regulation within the industry was “seriously alarming”.

“Fantastic news, after many years campaigning for regulation in the beauty industry – including contributing and providing evidence to the APPGs and other industry authorities, we are so pleased that the government has today announced that they intend to introduce a nationwide licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as botulinum toxins and fillers,” BABTAC said on Instagram about the recent development. “We have worked with the government to highlight the issues facing our industry and this is a positive and very important step in the right direction.”

Writer
Nessa Humayun
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