To protect patients against botched procedures, beauticians who provide Botox and fillers to their clients would require a license under the Government Plans.
Sajid Javid stated his determination to make it an offense for non-surgical workers to work without licensure.
According to the Department of Health, an amendment to today’s Health and Care Bill would allow the Health Secretary to establish a licensing system for these procedures.
It added that the regulation’s’scope, details and scope’ will be determined through extensive engagement. This includes a public consult.
This scheme would establish uniform standards and standards of practice for practitioners and stipulate safety and hygiene standards in premises.
A proposed amendment to the Health and Care Bill that will be presented today could mean beauticians may soon require a license to inject Botox and other fillers.
Javid stated that while most people in the aesthetics field follow safe practices when it comes patient safety, too many patients have suffered emotional and physical scarring from botched procedures.
He said, “I’m committed to patient safety and make it an offense for anyone to perform these procedures without a license.”
“We are doing everything we can to protect our patients from possible harm. But I encourage anyone contemplating a cosmetic procedure, to consider the effects on their mental and physical health, and to ensure that they use a qualified, reputable and safe practitioner.
Maria Caulfield from the Ministry for Patient Safety stated that there has been an increase in Botox and Fillers demand due to the proliferation of pictures online through social media. There have also been increased instances of patients suffering adverse effects of poorly-done procedures.
Elle added that while these procedures can be performed safely, there is an alarming rise in patients who are left with scarring from poor surgical techniques.
“Today’s Amendment is the next step in the process of effective regulation for non-surgical cosmetic procedures within England.”
According to current regulations, an aesthetic practitioner is not required to hold any particular qualifications. This means that anyone can complete a basic training course for the treatment and be permitted to practice it.
Staff are being taught online or at one-day training courses for as little as £150.
The regulation of skin treatments, such as Botox, Dermal Fillers and Chemical Peels, is largely unregulated. However, the Care Quality Commission advises anyone considering having their bodies altered to ensure that their surgeon has been registered.
Certain dermal fillers, and certain implants, used for cosmetic treatments as part of ‘professional services’ in the UK, are exempted from safety regulations.
This is in response to new legislation that makes it illegal for under-18s to receive such treatments and bans traditional and social media advertising for cosmetic procedures that target this age group.
Practitioners who fail to verify age before enhancements are possible face prosecution.
Each year, around 40,000 procedures are performed on children under the age of 18 in England.
Information about the open consultation for non-surgical cosmetic procedures will be provided at a later time.
Royal Society for Public Health stated that the boom in online videoconferencing, as well as working remotely from home, has driven demand for Botox. It also called the “Zoom boom”
However, it warned people that their desire to enhance their physical appearance isn’t without risks. Moreover, bungled procedures can lead to irreversible mental and physical damage.
The pandemic has seen a 500% increase in the demand for these procedures at clinics, which include breast implants and tummy-tucks.
Experts attribute the rise in British workers to the fact that they can work remotely and avoid getting ridiculed by their coworkers.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), however, has cautioned that only one fifth of all patients will be satisfied with their care. Cosmetic surgery clinics can cause serious injuries to their patients if they are negligent or otherwise malpractice.
In a damning document published before the outbreak, the CDC stated that certain surgeries had been left unsupervised by trained staff.
It was also discovered that some clients received out-of-date medication and were left in danger during liposuction.
Since the popularity of botox, lip fillers and facial implants in 2010, MPs have been calling for greater regulation within the beauty industry. Many have called this the “Love Island effect”.