The government has confirmed plans to bring in a licensing scheme in order to regulate injectable cosmetic procedures including Botox and dermal fillers, bringing regulation to the industry in order to better protect patients and clients.
The plans were announced on the government’s own website in a headline-grabbing news story entitled:
“Government to crack down on unregulated cosmetic procedures”
An amendment to the Health and Care bill will effectively give the Health Secretary the necessary freedom to introduce a licensing regime for cosmetic procedure practitioners.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:
“While most of those in the aesthetics industry follow good practice when it comes to patient safety, far too many people have been left emotionally and physically scarred after botched cosmetic procedures.
“I am committed to protecting patient safety by making it an offence for someone to perform these cosmetic procedures without a licence.
“We’re doing all we can to protect patients from potential harm, but I urge anyone considering a cosmetic procedure to take the time to think about the impact on both their physical and mental health and ensure they are using a reputable, safe and qualified practitioner.”
The government’s press release explains:
“Although the majority of the aesthetics industry shows good practice when it comes to patient safety, this step will ensure consistent standards and protect individuals from those without licences, including from the potentially harmful physical and mental impacts of poorly performed cosmetic procedures.
“It is the latest move by the government to safeguard those who access non-surgical cosmetic treatments and follows on from new legislation making it illegal to administer such treatments to under 18s, and banning adverts on all forms of media including social media, influencer advertising and traditional advertising for cosmetic procedures which target under 18s.”
Regulation of Clinics & Treatment Premises
While details of the scheme are yet to emerge, it would appear that there will be measures in place to ensure consistent standards not only for practitioners but also for the premises in which non-surgical treatments are carried out, including hygiene and safety standards.
The government website states:
“The licensing scheme will introduce consistent standards that individuals carrying out non-surgical cosmetic procedures will have to meet, as well as hygiene and safety standards for premises.”
The government has promised extensive engagement and there will be a public consultation on the scope and details of the proposed licensing scheme.
Dermal Fillers To Be Made Medical Device
The government also confirmed moves to class dermal fillers as a medical device by the MHRA. This would make them subject to much greater control, as supply of dermal filler product is currently unregulated. The article on the government’s website states:
“This amendment in addition to ongoing work with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the potential to bring certain devices, such as dermal fillers without a medical purpose, in scope of medical device regulations. The government is currently analysing responses from a public consultation which ran to 25 November 2021 and will publish a formal response in due course.”
Read the full story at Government to crack down on unregulated cosmetic procedures.
Dr Tim Pearce on New ‘Cosmetic License’
SkinViva Training Academy’s founder Dr Tim Pearce shared his views on the impact of the new injector license/registration scheme.
Tim says:
“Nothing could be worse than where we are now, with a complete absence of any real standards at all at the level of statute. It would be hard for any government intervention to make things worse although it is possible and we’ll come to that later. I’m pretty sure this is a step in the right direction.”
He continues:
“I believe the inherent nature of the interventions we do are sufficiently risky to both physical psychological and social health of the public that it requires the medical model of decision making at every stage along the process not just in complications.”
Join in the debate on Dr Tim’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-SuauTted0.
BOTOX® and Dermal Filler Training
SkinViva Training Academy Manchester
SkinViva Training Academy is one of the UK’s premier training schools for cosmetic injections. The company only offer training for medical professionals who meet their entry criteria which includes degree-level medical qualifications, working in a clinical role with proficiency in injections/cannula and membership of a regulatory body .
The company offers a range of professional training courses for cosmetic and medical skin treatments. See list of forthcoming training course dates.
SkinViva Training Academy was established in 2013 by Dr Tim Pearce MBChB BSc (Hons) MRCGP. The SkinViva Training Academy team upholds high standards of clinical training providing a combination of fully-supervised practical experience together with essential theory.
For further information, to discuss which course is right for you, to enquire about availability or to book a training course please call 0161 850 2491, or email info@skinvivatraining.com.