The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) is very concerned about the ongoing, unmanaged risks arising from non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as Botox and fillers. Until the Government’s proposed new licensing system is in place, people using these treatments face a greater risk of harm.

Last August, the Health and Social Care Committee called for a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures to be introduced within a year. We welcomed the UK Government’s pledge to introduce a scheme and their current work to develop it, following amendment to the Health and Care Act in 2022 to give the Health Secretary powers to bring in a licensing scheme in England.

We remain concerned about patient safety while this process is underway and would like to see the scheme developed as soon as possible. Ahead of the introduction of a licensing scheme, we:

we urge those getting services such as Botox and fillers to choose a practitioner on an Accredited Register. We have checked that registers meet our standards and awarded them our quality mark

encourage all eligible non-surgical cosmetic practitioners to join an Accredited Register to demonstrate their competence and reduce risk to the public

encourage everyone to respond to the Department for Health and Social Care consultation on a licensing scheme when it is published this summer.

Alan Clamp, Chief Executive, said,

"Some people having non-surgical cosmetic treatments are experiencing harm at the hands of poorly trained or unscrupulous practitioners. We know the Government is working on a new licensing scheme and would like to see this introduced as soon as possible. In the meantime, we want people to make sure they know who is treating them, and the best way to do that is to choose someone on an Accredited Register."

The PSA has accredited two registers for non-surgical cosmetic practitioners,Save Faceandthe Joint Council for Cosmetic Practice (JCCP). Accreditation provides assurance to the public and employers that practitioners are competent and that services are underpinned by robust complaints processes.