Delayed regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures threatens patient safety

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures, particularly botulinum toxin injections and dermal fillers, are increasingly commonplace in the UK, with around 900 000 botulinum toxin injections performed annually.1 Recent research identified almost 20 000 practitioners across more than 5500 UK clinics in 2025, a quarter of whom were non-medical aestheticians.2 Of particular concern is the ready availability of increasingly invasive interventions, including high volume dermal fillers, outside conventional healthcare settings.3More than a decade after the 2013 Keogh review highlighted serious gaps in the regulation of cosmetic interventions,4 many of these concerns remain unresolved. Regulation of who can perform procedures, with what training, in what premises, and with what arrangements for consent, aftercare, and management of complications is still inadequate.3 For many people experiencing complications from “high street” procedures, accountability, liability, or compensation remains elusive.3In 2025, consumers, clinicians, and organisations submitted evidence to the UK parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee documenting multiple cases of…