- Published
Only properly trained professionals will be allowed to offer high-risk cosmetic procedures like liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), vampire facials and chemical peels, under long-awaited government plans for England in 2027.
asserted
professionals → publish → 2027
The government said it wanted to "drive cosmetic cowboys out of the market" and shield people from treatments "that can go badly wrong".
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that → say → treatments
Currently, there are no restrictions over who can carry out these 'no scalpel' procedures, which can harm or kill if not performed safely.
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which → be → procedures
Under the new rules, high-risk procedures for under-18s will also be banned, and rogue providers will face new criminal offences and fixed fines of up to £4,000.
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providers → ban → 4,000
The government began consulting on changes to the cosmetic surgery industry in 2023, but there have been calls for stricter regulations for many years.
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government → begin → years
It comes following horror stories of procedures reportedly carried out in Airbnbs, hotel rooms, garden sheds and even public toilets, by "cosmetic cowboys", external.
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It → come → cowboys
Women have told the BBC of dangerous complications, pain and permanent scarring after treatment by rogue operators.
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Women → tell → operators
Alice Webb, a mother-of-five from Gloucestershire, died within hours of getting a liquid Brazilian butt lift in 2024.
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Webb → die → 2024
That same year, Sasha Dean, from Bedfordshire, was left in a coma after receiving a liquid BBL.
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Dean → leave → BBL
A BBL is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure in which dermal fillers are injected into the buttocks to alter their size or shape.
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fillers → inject → size
Some of Sasha's treatment took place in a private house and she ended up developing sepsis.
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she → take → sepsis
She told BBC News: "Very quickly it turned into a complete nightmare.
"
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it → tell → nightmare
I had a heart attack, one of my lungs had collapsed, my kidneys were failing.
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kidneys → have → lungs
My body was just completely shutting down."
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body → shut → ?
Under the government's new rules:
Fillers injected into parts of the body other than the face, like liquid BBLs, will be legally defined as cosmetic surgical procedures, meaning only doctors could perform the surgery
High-risk non-surgical or wellbeing treatments, including deep chemical peels, vampire facials, dermal micro-coring and some laser procedures would be restricted to doctors, dentists and some nurses, midwives and pharmacists who have been trained
Cosmetic surgery and risky treatments will be banned for under 18s - lip fillers and face Botox on children has already been stopped
What is a vampire facial?
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facial → inject → children
Vampire facials involve drawing a patient's blood and then separating out platelet-rich plasma from it using a centrifuge.
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facials → involve → centrifuge
The plasma is then injected back into the face through tiny needle punctures
Dermal micro-coring involves removing tiny sections of skin using thin hollow needles, small enough to allow scarless healing
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coring → inject → healing
Chemical peels are skin resurfacing procedures that use a chemical solution to remove the top layers of skin
Health Minister Karin Smyth said: "We want to drive cosmetic cowboys out of the market and raise standards across the board, giving reputable businesses a fair chance to thrive by helping people identify safe, qualified providers they can trust."
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they → resurface → providers
The British Beauty Council said the government should be congratulated for tackling the issue head-on.
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government → say → issue
But Mr Keith Allison, from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said the consultation was "long overdue" and, while welcome, the proposals did not go far enough.
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proposals → say → England
"Ministers must ensure they do not create a new loophole in patient protection by regulating non-surgical cosmetic procedures more robustly than cosmetic surgery itself.
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they → ensure → surgery
"A doctor should not be able to carry out cosmetic surgery simply because they hold a medical license."
The government will now ask doctors, businesses, regulators, the public and other experts for their say on the draft rules, before plans go through parliament in spring 2027.
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plans → carry → spring
A licensing scheme for Botox clinics in England to improve safety standards has already been announced.
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scheme → improve → standards
In Scotland, laws passed in March mean cosmetic procedures must be performed by, or alongside, certain healthcare professionals in a registered setting.
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procedures → pass → setting
Non-surgical procedures are banned for under 18s.
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procedures → ban → 18s
The Aporia
