On 21 October 2026 the Department of Health and Social Care launched a consultation on draft rules for high-risk cosmetic procedures. It is a significant step towards the tougher regulation that patient-safety campaigners, including Save Face, have been calling for since 2023. In this video, Umesh, Medical Director at 65 Medical, explains what is being proposed and why we support it.
Umesh appears in real video; his voice is AI-generated and lip-synced, with his consent. The treatment footage is real, filmed at our clinic with consent.
What is being proposed
The government's draft rules focus on the procedures that carry the highest risk:
- Body fillers, including liquid BBLs: fillers injected anywhere other than the face would legally be defined as cosmetic surgery, so only doctors could perform them.
- Other high-risk treatments: deep chemical peels, vampire facials, dermal micro-coring and some high-risk laser procedures would be restricted to doctors, dentists, and nurses, midwives and pharmacists who can prescribe and have completed accredited training.
- Under-18s: cosmetic surgery and other high-risk procedures would be banned for under-18s. Filler is already banned for under-18s under a separate law.
- Penalties: providers who break the rules could face new criminal offences, unlimited fines, or fixed penalties of up to £4,000.
Closing the loophole
One of the aims is to stop people carrying out high-risk procedures in places like hotel rooms, with no regulatory oversight at all. Too many people have been harmed by treatments carried out by practitioners without the training, the setting or the emergency plan to keep them safe.
What comes next
Separately, the government says it remains committed to a licensing scheme for lower-risk treatments, such as anti-wrinkle injections and lip filler. The new rules are planned to go before Parliament in spring 2027, and the consultation is open to clinicians, regulators, businesses and the public.
Why we support it
At 65Beauty we welcome these proposals. We are a nurse-led, CQC-registered clinic, and our nurse Bina is accredited by Save Face. Safety, proper training and honest consultations are how we work every day, and clearer rules help patients tell the difference.
If you're a patient
Before any treatment, wherever you go, ask:
- Who is treating me, and what are they qualified to do?
- Is the clinic registered?
- What happens if something goes wrong?
A good clinic will be happy to answer. You can read our full patient safety checks.
If you run a clinic
Please read the proposals and have your say in the consultation. This is a real chance to shape safer rules for everyone. You can read the government announcement on GOV.UK, and respond through the consultation page using the "Respond online" link. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 13 January 2027. If you need support with CQC registration or compliance, visit 65medical.co.uk.
Our response to the consultation
This is the response we are submitting to the Department of Health and Social Care.
We are a nurse-led, CQC-registered aesthetics and private healthcare clinic at 39 Kings Road, Brentwood, with a second clinic in central London. Our nurse is accredited by Save Face. Through 65 Medical, we also support other clinics with CQC registration and compliance.
We fully support the government's proposals to regulate high-risk cosmetic procedures. In particular, we welcome:
- defining fillers injected outside the face, including liquid BBLs, as cosmetic surgery, so that only doctors can perform them
- restricting deep chemical peels, vampire facials, dermal micro-coring and high-risk laser procedures to doctors, dentists, and prescribing nurses, midwives and pharmacists with accredited training
- banning cosmetic surgery and other high-risk procedures for under-18s
- new criminal offences and meaningful penalties for providers who break the rules
- closing the loophole that allows high-risk procedures in unregulated settings such as hotel rooms
In our experience, patients often cannot tell a properly trained, regulated practitioner from one who is not. Clear rules, backed by enforcement, protect patients and give responsible clinics a fair footing. We also support the government's commitment to a licensing scheme for lower-risk treatments, and we would welcome a clear timetable for it.
Paul Lomas, Clinical Director, 65Medical Ltd
Frequently asked questions
Do these rules affect lip filler or anti-wrinkle injections on the face?
These proposals focus on high-risk procedures. Facial filler and anti-wrinkle treatments are expected to be covered by a separate licensing scheme, which the government says it remains committed to.
When will the new rules come in?
They are out for consultation now, with the legislation planned to go before Parliament in spring 2027.
How can I check a practitioner?
Ask about their qualifications, check whether the clinic is registered, and look for accreditation from recognised bodies. If something doesn't feel right, don't go ahead.
Book a consultation
If you'd like to talk to a nurse-led, CQC-registered clinic, book a consultation at 39 Kings Road, Brentwood.
Results vary. Treatments are for adults aged 18 and over and are subject to a consultation.
Results vary from person to person. Every treatment starts with a consultation with a registered clinician.