Ill-qualified practitioners ‘cosmetic cowboys’ face unlimited fines under new proposals announced by the Government.

The Government is today launching a consultation to ask clinicians, regulators, businesses, the public and other experts for their say on the draft regulations before plans go through the Parliamentary process, which is currently planned for spring 2027. 

Health minister Karin Smyth said: ‘These changes mean that only properly trained professionals can carry out the most serious, high-risk procedures and that young people will be shielded from treatments that can go badly wrong.'

The proposals include limiting liquid Brazilian Butt Lifts, vampire facials and chemical peels to qualified healthcare experts only and a ban on cosmetic surgery and other high-risk procedures banned for under-18s.

Breaking the rules could see providers being hit with unlimited fines, or fixed penalties up to £4,000. 

Keith Allison, cosmetic surgery co-lead at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said the new proposals did not go far enough, however, commenting: ‘If the Government strengthens regulations for non-surgical procedures while leaving cosmetic surgery largely unchanged, it will create an unacceptable gap in patient protection.  

‘A doctor should not be able to carry out cosmetic surgery simply because they hold a medical license.  

‘We want the Government to ensure that anyone performing cosmetic surgery has the appropriate surgical training and expertise for the procedures they undertake. Patients deserve to know that their surgeon has the qualifications, skills and experience relevant to the specific operation they are having.

‘As these proposals are developed, 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.'

Lee Peart is editor of Hemming Group’s Healthcare Management magazine.