Botox And Filler Practitioners Will Now Need A License To Operate In England

A new amendment to the Health and Care Bill will require all cosmetic practitioners to hold a licence for non-surgical procedures like Botox and fillers.

The amendment, which will be tabled today, will contribute to the government's fight to ensure that a high standard of care is met.

While most cosmetic and aesthetic clinics already show good practice when it comes to patient safety, this move is a positive step forward in protecting individuals from potentially harmful physical and mental impacts of poorly performed cosmetic procedures.

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This amendment to the Health and Care Bill will give the Health Secretary powers to introduce a licence for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

The licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures will introduce consistent standards that practitioners and their premises will have to meet.

It will focus on those cosmetic procedures which, if improperly performed, have the potential to cause harm, such as Botox and fillers. Further details will be determined via public consultation.

Speaking on the new move, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "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.  

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“I am committed to protecting patient safety by making it an offence for someone to perform these cosmetic procedures without a licence. 

“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."

This move follows on from new legislation making it illegal to administer non-surgical cosmetic procedures to under 18s, and banning adverts on all forms of media including social media, influencer advertising and traditional advertising for cosmetic procedures which target under 18s.

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A public consultation on the new amendment ran in November 2021, and a formal response which will determine further the details is expected to be published in due course.