England: government plans tougher rules for cosmetic procedures, with penalties for those who break the law

The UK government has announced tighter rules on aesthetic procedures in England. The plans are intended to protect patients from complications after procedures carried out by people without the right qualifications. According to a BBC News report of 20 October 2026, the new rules will include restrictions on who can carry out procedures, as well as fines for people who break the law, and will come into force in 2027.

What the government is proposing

According to a statement from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the riskiest procedures, such as non-surgical buttock enlargement (the so-called Brazilian butt lift), will only be allowed to be carried out by qualified healthcare professionals. They will have to work in premises registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body that oversees healthcare in England.

Less risky procedures, including Botox, lip fillers and facial fillers, are to be subject to a new licensing system run by local authorities. People carrying out such procedures will have to meet requirements on safety, training and insurance.

Breaking the rules on the highest-risk procedures is to be met with enforcement by the CQC and financial penalties. The government also plans restrictions for people under 18: serious aesthetic procedures would only be available to them with the consent of a healthcare professional.

Why the changes are being made

The government says the reason is cases of complications, permanent scarring and even deaths after procedures carried out by people with little or no medical training. These procedures are sometimes carried out in homes, hotels and temporary treatment rooms. The government also stresses that putting right failed procedures places a burden on the NHS.

Health minister Karin Smyth said in the statement that the aim is not to stop people having procedures, but to protect them from unscrupulous operators.

The highest-risk procedures are to be regulated first, for example fillers injected into the breasts and intimate areas. The details of the new rules are to be subject to public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny before they come into force.

What this means for you

The changes apply to England and to everyone who has aesthetic procedures there. Until the rules come into force, the government advises checking the qualifications and insurance of the person carrying out the procedure and avoiding suspiciously cheap offers. This also applies to people who run beauty salons or carry out aesthetic procedures professionally. In future they may need a licence or appropriate qualifications, depending on the type of procedure. The final scope of the requirements depends on rules that have yet to be drawn up.