Non-surgical aesthetics has grown enormously over the last decade, and the rules haven’t kept up. That’s finally starting to change. MPs are pushing the government to move faster on a national licensing scheme for treatments like dermal filler, and there has been a lot in the news this month.
As a doctor working in aesthetics, I welcome it. Here’s a plain-English summary of what’s changing, where things stand as of September 2026, and what you can do now to make sure you’re in safe hands.
Where the rules stand today
It surprises most people to learn that, in England, there’s currently no legal requirement for someone injecting dermal filler to have any medical qualification. Dermal filler isn’t a medicine, so it doesn’t need a prescription, and fillers used purely for cosmetic reasons aren’t yet fully covered by medical device law in Great Britain.
Some protections are already in place:
- Since 2021, it has been illegal to give cosmetic injectables such as fillers to under-18s in England.
- Prescription-only medicines can only be prescribed by a qualified prescriber, and UK professional regulators expect a face-to-face consultation before any prescription-only injectable is prescribed.
- Doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists are held to professional standards by their regulators, and can be struck off for unsafe practice.
But beyond that, standards across the industry vary widely.
What’s changing: the new licensing scheme
The Health and Care Act 2022 gave the government the power to create a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. A public consultation in 2023 proposed sorting treatments into three risk levels. In August 2025 the government confirmed this approach, although it hasn’t yet finalised which treatments will sit in each tier. The proposals were:
- Green (lower risk): treatments such as microneedling, superficial chemical peels and LED therapy. Practitioners will need a licence and premises that meet set standards.
- Amber (medium risk): treatments including dermal filler, other cosmetic injectables, PRP and HIFU. Regulated healthcare professionals who meet the standards can perform these. Non-healthcare practitioners would need a licence and oversight from a named regulated healthcare professional.
- Red (highest risk): procedures such as filler injected into the breasts or buttocks, and thread lifts. These would be limited to suitably qualified healthcare professionals working in premises registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Local councils would run licensing for green and amber treatments.
Why MPs say it’s too slow
In February 2026, the Commons Women and Equalities Committee published a report on cosmetic procedures. It called for “high harm” procedures such as liquid BBLs to be banned immediately and criticised the pace of reform. In June, the Health Minister said the government would focus first on the highest-risk procedures and consult on draft regulations, and committed to introducing licensing within this Parliament. No firm start date has been set.
This month the committee has been hearing further evidence from patient-safety and surgical groups, including Save Face and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, with a clear message: the longer self-regulation continues, the more people are harmed.
The details are still being worked out, including training standards, insurance and how supervision will work in practice. We’ll update this article as things progress.
How to choose a safe clinic now
You don’t need to wait for new laws to protect yourself. These are the checks I’d want my own family to make.
1. Check who’s treating you, and look them up.
Ask for your practitioner’s full name and professional registration. You can check doctors on the GMC register, nurses on the NMC register, and dentists and pharmacists with their regulators. It takes two minutes.
2. Expect a proper consultation first.
A good practitioner takes a medical history, examines you, explains risks and alternatives, and doesn’t pressure you into same-day treatment. If a treatment involves a prescription-only medicine, the prescriber should see you face to face.
3. Ask what happens if something goes wrong.
Complications are rare but they happen, even in the best hands. Ask how they’d manage one. For filler, ask whether they keep hyaluronidase (the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid filler) on site and are trained to use it, and whether they carry medical indemnity insurance.
4. Ask what product is being used.
You’re entitled to know the brand and product being injected. Reputable clinics use established, CE- or UKCA-marked products from reputable suppliers and are happy to show you.
5. Look at the setting.
Treatment should take place in a clean, clinical environment, not a hotel room, a house party or a pop-up.
6. Be wary of deals that seem too good.
Heavily discounted injectables, “bring a friend” offers and time-limited pressure are red flags. Safe treatment costs what it costs.
Our approach at MedSkin Studios
Every patient at MedSkin Studios is assessed by a doctor. We take a full medical history, give you time to think before treatment, and plan for aftercare and any complications from the start. It’s the same standard the new rules are trying to make universal, and it’s why natural-looking results and patient safety are our standard.
Frequently asked questions
When will the new licensing scheme start?
No start date has been confirmed. The government has said it will introduce licensing within the current Parliament, starting with the highest-risk procedures.
Will it make treatments more expensive?
Possibly a little, as clinics meet new standards. But it should make it much easier to tell a safe provider from an unsafe one.
Are beauty therapists going to be banned from doing injectables?
Under the current proposals, non-healthcare practitioners would still be able to offer some medium-risk treatments, but only with a licence and oversight from a named healthcare professional. The final details haven’t been confirmed.
Is microneedling or a chemical peel regulated?
The 2023 proposals placed microneedling and superficial peels in the “green” tier, which would mean the practitioner and premises need a licence. This hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Talk to a doctor
If you’re considering a treatment and want a doctor’s opinion first, book a free consultation. We’ll explain your options, the risks, and whether treatment is right for you at all.
Dr. Ommid
This article reflects the position as of September 2026 and is for general information only.
Sources: House of Commons Library briefing CBP-10331; Women and Equalities Committee; Aesthetics Journal.
