The Prime Minister has acknowledged the growing concern surrounding unregulated beauty clinics and salons on high streets that are putting lives in danger with questionable cosmetic procedures. He stressed that more needs to be done and confirmed that the Health Secretary is actively addressing the issue. Recently, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of tackling the problem, with the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, already looking into it.
Streeting has previously supported efforts to end the “wild west” of cosmetic surgery, a term used to describe the unregulated practices that have raised significant safety concerns. He has expressed his determination to act on the issue, particularly focusing on unregulated clinics offering high-risk procedures. In December, Streeting cautioned the public to avoid deals that seem too good to be true, adding that while many horror stories have come from overseas, the issue is also prevalent within the UK. He acknowledged that more work is needed to ensure safety standards in this sector.
A tragic event in September, when Alice Webb, 33, became the first person to die after undergoing a liquid BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) procedure at a UK clinic, has sparked wider calls for action. Groups such as Save Face and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons are now backing the push for stronger regulations on cosmetic procedures. The Royal College of Surgeons has also raised alarms, urging immediate action to regulate cosmetic procedures before another life is lost.
There is concern that hundreds of thousands of unregistered practitioners, some operating from high streets or even homes, are offering aesthetic treatments like Botox, dermal fillers, and liposuction. While all doctors performing cosmetic surgery in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council, non-surgical procedures are often carried out by unqualified individuals. This lack of regulation makes it difficult to ensure that such treatments are performed safely.
In response to these risks, campaigns like the Mirror’s are calling for a crackdown on beauty clinics offering potentially dangerous procedures. They demand that all clinics providing high-risk treatments such as BBLs, liposuction, and facelifts be licensed by the Quality Care Commission. Moreover, they are pushing for all procedures to be performed only by qualified medical professionals and for practitioners to carry malpractice insurance. While the government initiated a consultation on licensing these procedures in the fall of the previous year, no significant actions have been taken yet. The new Labour government is currently considering what steps to take to address the safety of non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and many are hoping that the public outcry will lead to meaningful changes soon.