The Importance of Regulation in Aesthetics
Ensuring Safety and Standards in Non-Surgical Procedures
The field of aesthetics, particularly non-surgical procedures such as Botox, dermal fillers, and skin rejuvenation treatments, has grown exponentially in recent years. This expansion has brought increased accessibility to cosmetic interventions, but it has also highlighted the critical importance of regulation to protect public safety and uphold professional standards.
Regulation plays a vital role in ensuring that practitioners offering aesthetic treatments operate within a framework of accountability and competence. Without stringent oversight, the industry risks becoming a landscape where unqualified individuals can perform procedures that carry significant risks, such as infections, nerve damage, or adverse reactions. These potential complications underscore the need for robust rules governing who can administer treatments and the conditions under which they are provided.
Across the UK, registered healthcare professionals are already required to registered with the regulator. This includes those registered with General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), General Dental Council (GDC) and Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). These registered professionals are already required to register with their specific healthcare regulators as every procedures undertaken is considered to be done in their capacity as a registered healthcare professional. This is something which has unfortunately become lost in the melee of incorrect and misleading opinions on these matters!
This registration ensures these practitioners adhere to established standards of care and ethics, safeguarding public trust and ensuring that procedures are conducted responsibly.
However, the occurrences of serious and potentially life changing errors and injuries within in industry has led to concerns about inconsistent practices and varying levels of expertise. It must be documented that this issue cannot be simplified to a “medic vs non medic” scenario. There are many highly skilled and talented “non medics” …. As well as some registered professionals whose practice is far below acceptable standards!
To address this, the 2022 consultation was launched regarding the licensing of non-surgical aesthetic procedures. These discussions aim to create a licensing framework that would enforce mandatory training and certification for practitioners, while also setting clear safety guidelines for the industry. We are currently in the reviewing and planning stage with recommendations due to release in 2026.
