Early last year there was an amendment made to the Health and Care Bill which gave the
Secretary of State the power to introduce a licencing system for cosmetic (or aesthetic)
procedures in England. Regulation of this field of medicine has been, in my opinion, long
overdue.
On 2nd September the Government announced the commencement of the first stage of
public consultation into the proposed licencing of cosmetic procedures.
The purpose of the consultation is for the Government to gather views on what non-surgical
cosmetic procedures should be included within the scope of the licencing scheme.
This is your chance to have your say.
Individuals and businesses are invited to share their views on how to make non-surgical
cosmetic procedures – including Botox, laser hair removal and dermal fillers – safer. This
includes age limits and restrictions for high-risk procedures, such as those involving injecting
fillers into intimate parts of the body – including the breasts and buttocks.
What is being proposed at this stage?
The treatments that should be included
The scheme will be focused on addressing ‘cosmetic procedures’, which is defined as a
procedure, other than a surgical or dental procedure, that is or may be carried out for
cosmetic purposes; and the reference to a procedure includes:
(a) the injection of a substance
(b) the application of a substance that is capable of penetrating into or through the
epidermis
(c) the insertion of needles into the skin
(d) the placing of threads under the skin
(e) the application of light, electricity, cold or heat
Who will be able to perform each procedure?
These procedures have been divided into subcategories based on risk.
The categories are as follows:
Green – Procedures with the lowest risk of complications. All practitioners (including nonmedical practitioners) are eligible to perform licensed procedures where they meet agreed
standards. Treatments include:
microneedling
mesotherapy
intense pulsed light (IPL) and light emitting diode (LED) therapies
chemical peels that involve destruction only into viable epidermis (the outermost
layer of the skin)
‘no-needle’ fillers including pneumatic devices that use intense pressure to pass
substances through the epidermis
micropigmentation (semi-permanent make up), including microblading and
nanoblading
non-ablative laser hair removal
photo rejuvenation (the use of a laser to treat skin conditions including wrinkles,
acne scarring, sun damage)
Amber: Procedures with medium risk of complications. Non-healthcare professionals must
be licensed and have relevant supervision by a named regulated healthcare professional
(who has gained an accredited qualification to prescribe, administer and supervise aesthetic
procedures). Qualified and regulated healthcare professionals are eligible to perform these
procedures without oversight where they meet agreed standards.
Treatments in this category include:
botulinum toxin injections
semi-permanent dermal fillers injected into the face only
biorevitalization injections and/or any injection of hyaluronic acid
vitamin and mineral injection procedures
platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy for cosmetic purposes and Biofiller
injection microsclerotherapy (spider vein treatment)
weight loss injections
carboxytherapy and/or the infusion of gases under the skin
cellulite subcision
injection lipolysis with a POM
cryolipolysis
high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), including intimate areas
radiofrequency treatments
plasma ablation or plasma fibroblast
non-ablative lasers (excluding photo rejuvenation and laser hair removal)
medium depth peels that involve full thickness destruction of entire epidermis into
upper dermis (the inner layer of the 2 main layers of the skin)
POM treatments applied topically for cosmetic purposes, such as prescription
strength vitamin A and hydroquinone for the treatment of pigmentation problems or
for skin lightening
electrocautery
the combination of 2 or more technologies to create a hybrid device. For example,
the combination of radiofrequency and microneedling to treat lines, wrinkles,
sagging skin, acne scars and stretch marks
cryotherapy and/or any cryocautery procedure that freezes the skin in order to
remove skin lesions such as skin tags, age spots and warts
Red: Procedures with the highest risk of complications. It is proposed that certain high-risk
procedures will be restricted to specified regulated healthcare professionals and be
regulated by the CQC.
Such procedures would not be included within the local authority licensing scheme.
These procedures include:
all thread lifting procedures, including PDO thread and cog lifts
hair restoration surgery
procedures aimed at augmenting any part of the body, in particular the breast,
buttocks and genitals, typically using autologous fat or dermal fillers
dermal micro-coring
hay fever injections for reducing redness or blotches on the skin
the combination of ultrasound and large bore cannula for the purposes of liposuction
deeper chemical peels such as phenol peels
lasers which target the deeper layers of the dermis. For example, CO2 lasers, where
used for extensive fully ablative resurfacing
the provision of any green or amber procedure where the circumstances of the
provision meet the criteria for the procedure to be classed as the CQC regulated
activity of treatment of disease, disorder or injury (TDDI)
all intravenous injectables and infusions
Minimum age of patients
The Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021 made it an offence for a person
to administer botulinum toxin, or a filler by way of injection for a cosmetic purpose, to a
person under 18 in England. The act also made it an offence to make arrangements to
undertake, or arrange for another person to undertake, these procedures on a person under
18 in England.
It is being proposed that the licensing scheme requirements or conditions will prohibit
practitioners from performing any procedures included within the scheme on people under
the age of 18 unless the procedure has been approved for use on a person under 18 by a
GMC registered doctor and is carried out by a specified healthcare professional.
What is not included?
Practice standards
Work in this area has not yet begun. The Government will review the responses submitted to this consultation which will close on the 28th of October before moving on to other areas.
Premises standards
Work in this area has not yet begun. The Government will review the responses submitted to this consultation which will close on the 28th of October before moving on to other areas.
Why support GSN Aesthetics?
Here at GSN Aesthetics, I practice using a medical model, I have completed extensive training and I have a wealth of experience in aesthetics. I also bring my knowledge and skills as a registered nurse and independent nurse prescriber to your treatments and care every day.
I have always strived to provide safe, evidenced based treatments using licensed products in a clean clinical environment and I have a very good reputation for providing an excellent standard of care.
If you’d like to have your say and show your support for GSN Aesthetics and the improvement in safety and standards in aesthetics, click on the link below:
