This guide will help you choose a cosmetic clinic for non-surgical treatments. These are treatments that do not need surgery. They can change how you look. Some examples are Botox, fillers, peels and energy treatments. We will tell you why this industry is growing fast, what risks you may face, and what questions you should ask before you pick a clinic.
How has the cosmetic clinic industry changed?
The cosmetic industry offers surgical and non-surgical procedures. Surgical cosmetic procedures include facelifts or breast enlargement.
Non-surgical procedures do not involve surgery. They can still change how you look. For example, botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox) can make wrinkles go away, fillers (commonly known as dermal fillers) can make your lips bigger, chemical peels can make your skin smoother and energy-based treatments can tighten skin.
Clinics offering these non-surgical services have grown over the past decade in the UK with variable oversight by the government or the law.
The British Beauty Council says that the cosmetic and personal care sector gave £24.5 billion to the UK economy and £6.8 billion to the government in taxes in 2022 .
In 2023, there were about 6,117 registered clinics offering non-surgical cosmetic treatments 1. But some people may offer these treatments in places that are not registered e.g. residential addresses, ‘Botox parties’, or hotels.
How are cosmetic clinics regulated?
Current regulation of cosmetic procedures is governed by a patch work of regulatory mechanisms at local and national government.
Who? There are no controls on who may provide non-surgical procedures, only access to prescription medicines (e.g. Botulinum toxin commonly referred to as Botox) and procedures in the mouth.
Where? The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates private clinics and hospitals in England that provide cosmetic surgery, but this does not include non-surgical cosmetic procedures e.g. hair restoration procedures, deep chemical peels, CO2 lasers for skin resurfacing, dermal fillers. Your local authority will use a wide range of legislation to regulate cosmetic treatments and there is significant local variation.
How old? There are few restrictions on young people accessing cosmetic procedures for young people except for tattoos and sunbeds where you must be over 18 years old.
Advertising? The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)’s remit only extends to commercial advertising online, and does not cover endorsements in tweets, Instagram posts or images shared by social media users.
In April 2022, the Health and Care Act gave Government the power to introduce a licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. The scheme ensures that consumers who choose to undergo a non-surgical cosmetic procedure can be confident that the treatment they receive is safe and of a high standard. A public consultation was launched in 2024 to define the procedures that would require a license. The outcome has not been reported as of August 2024.
What are the risks to you?
With multiple clinics competing, people might cut corners, lower their quality, or resort to deceptive marketing.
These have been well reported in the press:
- A woman required emergency treatment after a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) was performed in a hotel function room - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyxee4nzzkpo
- A woman lost £10,870 after SK:N, the largest Hight Street plastic surgery chain, went bankrupt before she could have her procedure - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4yvxw9y5po
- Complaints about non-surgical breast enhancements and BBLs have risen at an “alarming” rate, up from fewer than five to 50 in a year - https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/02/complaints-about-non-surgical-butt-lifts-rising-at-alarming-rate-in-uk
These stories illustrate the dangers and consequences of choosing a cosmetic clinic service without doing proper research. You should not base your decision solely on price, convenience, or online reviews, as these may not reflect the true quality and safety of the service. You should also be wary of any clinic that offers unrealistic results, discounts or deals that seem too good to be true. You should not be rushed into booking a procedure.
What questions should you ask?
Always book a consultation with the person who will do the procedure before making your final decision.
Ask them:
- The number of procedures they have completed.
- Their qualifications and training.
- Their membership in relevant professional associations.
- If aftercare is provided by them.
- The process for handling complications or complaints.
- The total cost and potential additional costs for further treatment if necessary.
Red flags when choosing a clinic
- Pressure to pay for a procedure before a consultation
- Lack of qualifications or professional registration of the staff
- Lack of transparency or information about the services
- Lack of reviews or testimonials from previous customers
- Use of aggressive of misleading marketing tactics
- Practitioners who only advertise on social media
- Group treatments, or events involving alcohol
- Treatment vouchers sold online as a group discount or vouchers websites
- Mobile services where procedures are performed in places such as private homes or hotels
How do I check if the practitioner is qualified?
Check the hospital is registered:
Check the clinic is registered:
Check the cosmetic doctor is registered:
- https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/the-medical-register/
- https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/patient-care/cosmetic-surgery/choosing-a-surgeon-and-hospital/certified-cosmetic-surgeons/
- https://baaps.org.uk/
- https://www.bapras.org.uk/
- https://www.jccp.org.uk/
Check the cosmetic dentist is registered:
Check other professions are registered:
- https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/
- https://www.jccp.org.uk/
- https://www.saveface.co.uk/
- https://www.bacn.org.uk/
- https://bcam.ac.uk/
