Demand for cosmetic surgery has increased significantly in recent years, yet the legal framework surrounding this has not grown at the same pace.  This means that many non-surgical procedures are being carried out by people with little or no medical training, and often without insurance. These procedures can carry serious risks.

When a treatment is carried out by someone who isn’t medically qualified, there is no guarantee that the products they use are genuine, safe, or suitable for you. If something goes wrong, people often find they have no way to complain, no professional body to turn to, and no useful paperwork to give to a doctor if they need medical help. In some cases, the products used may be counterfeit, poor quality, or not approved for use in the UK, equally the procedures can take place in unsafe environments.  You may not know exactly what is being injected into your body, or what the risks and side effects might be.

If the practitioner cannot properly explain these risks, you cannot be said to have given fully informed consent.

Why is Demand Increasing?

The Women and Equalities Committee’s Cosmetic Procedures report, published on the 18^th February 2026, highlights worsening body image, particularly amongst young women and girls, as a major driver of the increased demand for cosmetic procedures. Social media plays a significant role by promoting cosmetic procedures and normalising edited or filtered appearances.

A 2024 survey found that:

• Approximately one quarter of girls aged 11-16 stated they would consider cosmetic procedures within the next 20 years.
• Nearly half of women aged 17-21 stated they would consider cosmetic procedures.

Popular Procedures: Breast Implants

Breast augmentation remains one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in the UK. More than 17,000 women underwent breast implant procedures in 2024 for aesthetic and reconstructive purposes.

Risks Include:

• Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that grows in response to the body’s reaction to a breast implant.
• Breast Implant Illness (BII) is a term used to describe symptoms some people experience following implantation

The Committee recommends mandatory recording in the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry of implant and explant procedures and adverse outcomes by the end of 2026.  It also suggests a 2 week cooling-off period before surgical cosmetic procedures and enhanced post-market surveillance of implants.

Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures

The report highlights that there is an absence of legislative framework for competency standards, which results in unsafe practices and “wild west” conditions where untrained individuals can perform aesthetic procedures.

The Women and Equalities Committee core recommendations include:-

• That the government introduce a national mandatory licensing regime for non-surgical procedures (before the next general election)

• An immediate restriction of high‑risk procedures (such as liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentation) to qualified medical professionals only.
• Lower risk procedures such as botox, dermal fillers and laser therapies should only be carried out by practitioners who hold a licence.

It is also recommended that there should be:

• Clear, enforceable training standards.
• Accessible and affordable training routes, especially for the predominantly female workforce.
• Support for Ofqual‑approved qualifications and apprenticeship pathways.
• Ending short, inadequate courses.

How to Protect Yourself

Before undergoing any cosmetic treatment, you should always:

• Ask for the practitioner’s full qualifications.
• Confirm which regulatory body they are accountable to.
• Check they have professional indemnity insurance.
• Ask about their training.
• Request details about the products being used, such as, the manufacturer, safety information, and a copy of the product leaflet.
• Check customer reviews.

How Can We Help?

If you have suffered harm following cosmetic surgery and believe that your treatment may have fallen below an acceptable standard, you may have grounds to pursue a medical negligence claim. Where a practitioner has breached their duty of care and this has caused you avoidable injury, complications, or financial loss, we may be able to assist you in investigating the circumstances and advising you on your legal options. Please contact our Clinical Negligence Team on 0161 928 3848 for a confidential discussion about your situation.