The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on placing restrictions on the performance of high-risk cosmetic and wellbeing procedures in England. Legislation has already been passed in Scotland (which is not yet in force – see, for example, our news item of 17 May 2026 https://plea.org.uk/news/non-surgical-procedures-for-under-18s-scotland/)
The government is proposing that specified high-risk cosmetic and wellbeing procedures, including cosmetic surgery and certain injectable and laser treatments, should only be carried out by specified, qualified healthcare professionals.
Under the proposals, such procedures could only be performed by doctors, dentists and independent prescribing nurses, midwives or pharmacists. (Cosmetic surgery, including the liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL), would be restricted to doctors only.) In the case of pharmacists, the proposal is that only independent prescribers would be eligible to carry out the specified procedures.
Procedures would also be restricted to people aged 18 and over, with exceptions for NHS provision or where a healthcare professional is treating a medical condition.
Breaching these regulations would be a criminal offence, with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) taking enforcement action against providers who fail to comply.
The consultation will close on 13 January 2027