Women and Equalities Committee report puts non-surgical cosmetic procedures under the spotlight
The Women and Equalities Committee has published its Health impacts of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures report (HC 869), calling for urgent reform of the non-surgical cosmetic procedures sector, an immediate ban on liquid BBLs and stronger action on cosmetic tourism and body image pressures.
While the report also examines breast implant safety, its warnings also focus on the rapid growth – and lack of effective regulation – across the non-surgical aesthetics market.
For beauty and aesthetics professionals, the message is clear: a mandatory licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures is now firmly on the political agenda.
What the Cosmetic Procedures Report means for the industry
The inquiry examined:
- The safety of non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, laser and chemical peels
- Proposals for a national licensing system
- The risks of cosmetic tourism
- The impact of social media, filters and AI on body image
- High-harm procedures including liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs)
The Committee concluded that regulation has “not kept pace” with demand, creating an environment where inadequately trained individuals can carry out high-risk procedures, often with serious consequences.
If the Government adopts the recommendations, the sector could see significant legislative change within this Parliament.
Licensing and safety standards: MPs back mandatory system
Currently, there is no overarching regulation defining who can perform many non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Evidence presented to the Committee described procedures taking place in Airbnbs, hotel rooms, garden sheds and public toilets.
The report recommends:
- Introduction of a licensing system for ‘green’ and ‘amber’ lower-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures
- Restricting higher-risk ‘red’ procedures to qualified and regulated healthcare professionals
- Immediate action on the highest-risk treatments
The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (Babtac) played a role in informing the Committee’s findings. Lesley Blair MBE, chief executive and chair of Babtac and Cibtac, gave evidence during the Committee’s session at the Palace of Westminster in October.
Blair said, “With treatments becoming more accessible due to lower costs, decisions that should involve careful research are sometimes made more impulsively. Without enforceable standards, self-regulation leaves consumers exposed to harm and undermines the professionalism of the sector.”
She added, “We fully support the Women and Equalities Committee’s recommendation to introduce a licensing system for ‘green’ and ‘amber’ lower-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures, ensuring only suitably qualified practitioners can perform them. We urge the Government to act within this Parliament to bring this framework into effect.”
For reputable professionals, a licensing framework could help differentiate qualified practitioners from untrained operators and rebuild consumer trust.
Liquid BBLs and high-risk procedures: call for immediate ban
The Committee is particularly concerned about high-harm procedures, including liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) and liquid breast augmentations.
It calls for:
- An immediate ban on liquid BBLs
- Urgent restrictions on procedures involving dermal fillers injected into breasts and other high-risk areas
Evidence presented to MPs included cases of sepsis, tissue death and fatalities following liquid BBL procedures.
For the wider sector, this recommendation signals a shift toward risk-based regulation, with invasive or high-complication treatments likely to face tighter controls or prohibition.
Cosmetic tourism: impact on patients and the NHS
The report highlights a surge in cosmetic tourism, with increasing numbers of patients travelling overseas for lower-cost procedures and returning to the UK with complications requiring NHS intervention.
MPs call on the Government to review the need for the NHS to systematically record complications arising from cosmetic procedures performed abroad.
Blair commented, “What many people overlook is the aftercare and risk of complications post-procedure. Once back in the UK, individuals may face recovery issues without access to a dedicated aftercare team. This can create highly stressful situations, sometimes requiring urgent care or corrective procedures. Not only does this cause emotional distress, but it also places an added strain on the NHS,”
For UK practitioners, this could lead to:
- Increased scrutiny of cross-border advertising
- Greater emphasis on documented aftercare pathways
- Clearer patient education about risks and recovery
Babtac’s central message is clear: don’t compromise on safety for the sake of savings.
Blair adds, “Anyone considering cosmetic treatments should conduct thorough research, never be swayed solely by low prices, verify the practitioner’s training, ensure they have proper insurance, and check both pre-treatment preparation and aftercare services as a minimum,”
Social media, AI filters and body image pressures
The Committee links growing demand for both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures to social media, influencer advertising, face-editing apps and AI filters.
The report recommends that the Department of Health and Social Care work with the Department for Education to integrate evidence-based body image and social media literacy programmes into school curricula, including the risks of cosmetic procedures.
Blair said, “Social media platforms and face-editing technologies are shaping unrealistic beauty standards, particularly for young women and girls. This can increase pressure to seek cosmetic procedures, sometimes impulsively and without fully understanding the risks. We support initiatives that educate the public, especially young people, about potential harms and encourage responsible use of social media to promote realistic body image,”
The report cites evidence that:
- 52% of women aged 18-34 would consider having a cosmetic procedure in the future
- Nearly half of young adults agree that social media has made both surgical and non-surgical treatments more commonplace
For practitioners, this reinforces the need for responsible marketing, transparent risk communication and avoidance of digitally altered before-and-after imagery.
Breast implants: research and training still under review
The Committee also addresses breast implants. It calls on the Government to:
- Commission research into the health impacts of breast implants, including potential links to autoimmune conditions
- Improve post-market surveillance of medical devices
- Require specialist training and board certification for practitioners performing invasive surgical cosmetic procedures
The direction of travel for the beauty and aesthetics industries
The Cosmetic Procedures Report is not law, but it is a strong signal of Government intent.
For the professional beauty and aesthetics community, the likely priorities ahead include:
- Preparing for a mandatory licensing system
- Reviewing training and qualification standards
- Strengthening clinical governance and documentation
- Ensuring robust insurance and aftercare processes
- Auditing marketing and social media practices
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