New Bill is huge step for unregulated cosmetics industry
It’s been a long time coming, but Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, has announced a new Bill this week to improve the delivery of non-surgical cosmetic procedures. The bill covers injecting Botox or fillers, following concerns about botched procedures from untrained practitioners. The news comes after Scotland was named “The Worst in Europe” for unqualified individuals carrying out non-surgical cosmetic treatments, according to a report by the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN).
The “Botox Bandit Bill” comes just weeks after the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) cracked down on how practitioners acquire Botox and fillers. The tighter rules mean that prescribers will be required to hold a face-to-face consultation with clients before obtaining the prescribed medicines. Research into the issue found that many people who had undergone non-cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers had not only not considered how the medicine was obtained but also did not even realise that they were prescribed medicines.
Anne Trotter, NMC assistant director of education and standards, said: “Following our research and engagement, we’re confident that our updated position on the remote prescribing of non-surgical cosmetic medicines is in the best interests of public safety and protection.
Nursing and midwifery prescribers provide competent and effective care to people every day. Face-to-face consultations will further improve their ability to assess people holistically and ensure non-surgical cosmetic medicines are prescribed as safely and appropriately.”
Is your practitioner qualified to provide treatments?
Because of the lack of legislation to date in the non-surgical cosmetics industry, there is usually no way of knowing if the provider has insurance or if they are using clean, suitable equipment. Or even if they have sufficient training. But the industry is only getting bigger. In the UK, 7.7 million people underwent aesthetic treatments in 2023, representing 11% of the population, and a further 13.9 million were considering treatments in 2024.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said the practice is growing popular, saying: “It is increasingly visible on our high streets, however, the sector is not currently fully regulated. As the sector is not fully regulated anyone can carry out the procedures without formal training.”
Susanne McGraw, Head of Personal Injury at Watermans, shared
“It is concerning how many people are unaware that this is such an unregulated area. In a practice where people are having invasive procedures, it would make sense that there were rules and procedures to follow. The legislation cannot come quickly enough, and I hope that there aren’t too many delays in having the legislation passed in order to protect people. It is, however, important that there are sanctions for people not adhering to the legislation, otherwise the process will be futile.”
Botched Botox and cosmetic procedures can result in serious injury. Scarring, bruising, and extreme swelling, which can lead to infection and even permanent disfigurement, are all real risks. If you are considering a non-surgical cosmetic procedure, resources like Save Face will help you to make the safest, most informed decision about your desired procedure. Save Face is a UK-government approved register of accredited practitioners.