The aesthetic medicine industry is worth over three billion pounds in the UK alone. It is growing at a rapid rate, fuelled by the rising popularity of Botox and dermal fillers, in particular.
However, the winds of change are blowing, with regulations on the way that will protect patients. These regulations ensure that only licensed practitioners working in licensed premises can perform certain cosmetic procedures.
With the full details of this new legislation yet to be confirmed, it’s a time of industry uncertainty. So, as a provider of award-winning aesthetics training courses, we wanted to bring you up to speed about what this all means if you’re considering a career in aesthetics medicine.
A NEW CAREER PATH
Retraining in the field of aesthetic medicine is a hugely attractive proposition for many medical professionals working in the UK.
It offers the potential to earn a meaningful supplementary income while at the same time allowing a degree of flexibility to continue with your job.
Several training courses are available from reputable providers, such as Acquisition Aesthetics.
While it is not easy, trained nurses are already equipped with many of the required skills, so you will certainly hit the ground running!
THE CURRENT LEGAL LANDSCAPE
Before we look to the future, it’s important to summarise the current situation when it comes to the most popular procedures. Let’s start with Botox.
Botulinum toxin injections such as Botox or Dysport are prescription-only medicines.
They can only be prescribed by a trained medical professional, and it’s illegal for a beautician to administer Botox. Especially that hasn’t been prescribed for a specific patient after a face-to-face meeting with a doctor, prescribing nurse, or qualified health professional.
However, legally, anyone can actually administer a Botox injection, irrespective of their level of training. It is a criminal offence for anyone to perform Botox or fillers of any kind on someone under 18.his comp with
THE WIDER PICTURE
The same lack of regulation applies to other procedures, such as dermal fillers, chemical peels, microneedling, laser hair removal, and thread lifts.
The obvious problem here is that there is no legal deterrent to anyone who wants to set themselves up as a practitioner of aesthetic medicine.
And so it follows that unreputable practitioners will often buy cheap, unlicensed products over the internet, which could have dire consequences, with no protection in law for anyone suffering a botched procedure.
As a consumer, there are ways to tell if a potential practitioner is safe and reputable. But when you put the onus on the patient, the door is opened not only for people to be misled. Others actively choose less reputable providers to save time or money to their detriment.
CHANGE IS ON THE WAY
In February 2022, a welcome amendment was made to the existing Health and Care Bill.
This set the wheels in motion for introducing a licensing scheme, which will make it a criminal offence to perform specific cosmetic procedures without a licence.
As a reputable provider of aesthetic medicine training, we are delighted with this development. This is predominantly due to the fact that it puts patient welfare front and centre, but also because it will force everyone to meet the high standards we have set!
THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Of course, few things move quickly when it comes to government legislation, but it was pleasing to see that a public consultation was concluded at the end of October 2023.
This particular public consultation allowed individuals and businesses to share their views on making non-surgical, aesthetic procedures safer.
The consultation also sought to define the exact procedures to be included in the new regulation.
A MORE REGULATED FUTURE
In the (hopefully) near future, not only will practitioners have to obtain a licence to perform certain procedures, but the premises they are working in will need to be licensed, too.
In addition, they will need adequate insurance, and we would also expect a formal complaints procedure if anything goes wrong.
Regular inspections of both individuals and premises will also be undertaken to ensure adherence to the new rules.
When it comes to procedures that will be covered, the following aesthetic approaches will certainly be included :
- botulinum toxin
- dermal fillers
- skin boosters
- micro needling
- thread lifts
- laser procedures
- and more
WHAT DON’T WE KNOW?
The million-dollar question is when exactly this regulation will move from the House of Commons to clinics nationwide.
The answer is, that we don’t currently know, although this paragraph from the official government site would imply that nothing is imminent!
“From the date the consultation closes and throughout 2024 and 2025, we will work with expert groups on the elements that will underpin the licensing scheme, including education and training standards, insurance, infection control and hygiene qualifications, and a fee model.”
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
Another burning question you may have is what you must do to secure that all-important license.
We know that a certain level of training will need to be reached. Specific operating standards, such as working from suitable premises, will need to be met.
However, the exact details of what will be classed as a suitable working environment have yet to be determined. Existing practitioners who have already reached a certain level of training may find this sufficient.
INDUSTRY-RECOGNISED TRAINING
Acquisition Aesthetics offers a wide range of foundation, advanced, expert, and refresher courses. These courses cover a wide range of procedures, including Botox and dermal fillers.
We are the only training academy in the UK led by female surgeons and fully accredited to deliver. This Level 7 Certificate in Injectables and Aesthetic Medicine is regulated by industry qualifications.
However, we should stress that while our award-winning courses offer the highest standard of training, no current qualifications will guarantee meeting the requirements in any future legislation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We understand that you may not know your best action plan with so much of the proposed aesthetic regulation still up in the air.
This article will have brought you up to date with where we are now. However, the best course of action is to remain engaged and follow what happens in the coming years. Any of the latest developments with leaders in the field such as Acquisition Aesthetics.
After all, creating a safer, more regulated environment for practitioners and aesthetics medicine clientele is a future worth waiting for!
