On the 2nd of September 2023, the Government released an open consultation on the licensing scheme of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. This a great step in bringing regulation into the aesthetics industry.

The details of the government’s plan for bringing regulation into the aesthetics industry were published on the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) website.

One of the main concerns for the Government is ensuring public safety and public protection. Currently, there are no regulations and restrictions on who can perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures. This creates a risk to the safety of the patient. The government recognises this and will be implementing the following licensing scheme in order to minimise the potential dangers to the public.

The licensing scheme will ensure that those who offer non-surgical cosmetic procedures:

• Are suitably knowledgeable, trained and qualified.
• Hold appropriate indemnity cover.
• Operate from premises which meet the necessary standards of hygiene, infection control and cleanliness.

“The purpose of the scheme is to ensure 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.”

“Any licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures must strike a balance between protecting the public and building confidence in the safety of the aesthetic industry while respecting consumer choice and encouraging innovation.”

The Government’s intention with the licensing scheme is to:

• Identify the procedures that present a risk to the public.
• Consist of 2 interlinked components: a practitioner licence and a premises licence.
• Be administered and enforced by local authorities, who will work with a range of partners such as environmental health officers, trading standards officers and the Health and Safety Executive.
• Make it an offence for an individual to carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures without a licence.
• Introduce a minimum age of 18 for those people seeking to receive the procedures licensed under the scheme.
• Require those people who offer procedures to:
• Be suitably trained and qualified.
• Hold appropriate indemnity cover.
• Operate from premises which meet the scheme’s standards of hygiene, infection control and cleanliness.

In this consultation, the Government is focusing on:

• The procedures in scope.
• Restrictions on which practitioners should be permitted to perform procedures.
• Age restrictions for those undergoing such procedures.

Restriction of cosmetic procedures

There are non-surgical cosmetic procedures that are extremely complex and invasive who should only be carried out by medical professionals with the required training. Putting patient safety first, the government are looking at a way to protect individuals who choose to undergo high-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures by restricting the types of treatment including:

• Procedures aimed at augmenting the genitals, typically using autologous fat or dermal fillers.
• Any injectable procedures – such as dermal fillers – undertaken to intimate areas of the body, such as the rectum, genitalia or breasts.
• The combination of ultrasound and large bore cannula for the purposes of liposuction.

These procedures would not be included within the local authority licensing scheme.

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Any providers of a regulated activity must meet CQC’s fundamental standards of safety and quality, or risk enforcement action. This ensures the safety of the patient. Aesthetic practitioners who are suitable to undertake a restricted high-risk procedure would have to register with CQC.

Risk Categories

There are always risks associated with aesthetic treatments. Certain non-surgical procedures are more complex than other and come with a higher level of risk to the patient. The government has proposed that they will be categorising non-surgical procedures depending on the risks (including level of complexity and degree of invasiveness) and potential complications associated. The categories are as follows:

“Green: Procedures with the lowest risk of complications. All practitioners are eligible to perform licensed procedures where they meet agreed standards.

Amber: Procedures with medium risk of complications. Non-healthcare professionals must be licensed and have relevant oversight by a named regulated healthcare professional (who has gained an accredited qualification to prescribe, administer, and supervise aesthetic procedures).

Red: Procedures with the highest risk of complications. In line with the proposal on CQC regulation of cosmetic procedures outlined above, bringing specified high-risk procedures into CQC regulation, so that they fall outside of the scope of the licensing scheme. We are also proposing to restrict these procedures to qualified and regulated healthcare professionals only.”

Mr Adrian Richards comments on the Licensing Scheme Proposal Released

Our Clinical Director & Consultant Plastic Surgeon Mr Adrian Richards comments on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England:

“I welcome the recently launched government consultation process on cosmetic procedures, in particular, the patients who have the treatments get a full say and their views aired.

Our priority as always should be the patients, and this is why I feel is very important that their views are heard and actioned. I also welcome proposals to restrict who can perform some high-risk procedures and age limits for those undergoing cosmetic procedures.

The aesthetics industry is young, and regulation is well overdue in my opinion to ensure the safety of the patients undergoing cosmetic treatments.

The new licensing scheme will provide reassurance to patients that wherever they go for their non-surgical cosmetic procedures, they will receive high standards of care from registered, licensed aesthetic practitioners.

The proposed Government Licensing System will help patients choose appropriately trained and qualified aesthetic practitioners, ensure they have necessary insurance coverage and are operating from a premise that is safe and hygienic.

The proposed new scheme which will be operated by local authorities will ensure that the practitioner needs to be licensed to perform specific procedures as will the premise from which they operate. This is a great advancement for the aesthetics industry in the UK and the government should be applauded for this initiative.

I would like to say many thanks to the JCCP, and in particular Professor David Sines, CBE, and his team for working so hard and diligently on the proposed licensing scheme which will be a benefit in my opinion for all practitioners and patients in England giving the industry regulation which it deserves in order to ensure patient safety.”

Accredited registers for non-surgical cosmetic procedures

“The Professional Standards Authority’s (PSA) Accredited Registers Programme provides assurance to the public when choosing health and care services, by independently assessing organisations which register practitioners who are not regulated by law.”

“Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) operates a voluntary register open to all practitioners working in the fields of cosmetic treatments. Practitioners must demonstrate evidence of competence and proficiency to join the JCCP register in accordance with its prescribed standards. JCCP also operates a non-PSA accredited register for Approved Education and Training Providers and Qualifications.”

At Cosmetic Courses, we provide you with a route to join the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) register through our JCCP Fast Track Assessment. Suitable for experienced injectors, you will need to demonstrate your knowledge and experience within aesthetic medicine. The JCCP Fast Track Assessment can be completed in a day (3 hours theory & 3 hours practical) or spread according to your schedule. You can find out more information and book the JCCP Fast Track by clicking here.

Next Steps

The Government will be working 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 fees model. Once the regulations have been finalised, there will be a transitionary period before the licensing scheme is in full operation across England.

What does this mean for you?

Regulation is coming into the industry. How can you ensure that you are in the best position? We have two options for medical professionals to ensure that they can operate once the licensing scheme is up and running.

Level 7 Diploma

The Level 7 Diploma is a JCCP approved and VTCT certified clinical aesthetics diploma in injectable treatments for medical professionals considering a career in aesthetic medicine as well as those already practicing but looking to obtain formal recognition for their knowledge and skills.

This Aesthetics Qualification is suitable for both new and experienced aesthetic practitioners. We have two options available for the Level 7, the full qualification and the Fast Track: Recognition of Prior Learning. Find out more about the Level 7 Qualification by clicking here.

If you are looking for the latest information on the government updates and regulation coming to the aesthetics industry, you can find the latest updates in the Government Guidelines Knowledge Hub.

The UK government have responded to the Department of Health and Social and Care Committee (HSCC) 2022 report on the impact of body image on mental and physical health. Alongside the report they have announced details of its aesthetics licensing plan including delivery will be released by July 2023.

In section 5 of the report, it starts to explore the use of non-surgical cosmetic procedures for those suffering with negative body image from mental and physical health. Sharing statistics such as:

• 8% of adults (4% of men and 13% of women) had considered cosmetic procedures
• 36% of young people agreed they would do ‘whatever it took’ to look good, with 10% saying they had considered cosmetic procedures
• 5% and 15% of patients who present for cosmetic procedures meet the diagnostic criteria for BDD

These findings point towards the aesthetic industry and what we are doing to ensure patients are not taken advantage of and only treated when practitioners are happy they meet the suitable criteria to undergo such procedures, mentally and physically.

The JCCP shared their statistics, which highlights how important it is for proper procedures and guidelines to be put in place to ensure patient safety:

• 22% did not have any pre-treatment consultation
• 70% had a consultation that lasted less than 20 minutes
• Almost one in four were not asked anything about their previous medical history during their consultation
• Almost four out of five patients were not asked anything about body image orpsychological/emotional challenges

A future regulatory regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures

The following statements were documented in response to future regulatory for the industry:

The dangers posed by non-surgical cosmetic procedures in vulnerable groups have been evident throughout the inquiry. The new licensing regime provides an opportunity to ensure that anyone planning to undertake a non-surgical cosmetic procedure has the time and space to consider their decision and weigh up the risks and benefits. It is clear this is not currently the case for everyone in that position.

We recommend that the new licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures includes a commitment to a two-part consent process for anyone considering having a non-surgical cosmetic procedure, including, at a minimum, a full medical and mental health history, as well as a mandatory 48-hour cooling off period between the consent process and undergoing the procedure. We further believe that information provided to patients or clients who are considering any treatments should always be provided with information in an accessible format to ensure they are able to make an informed choice about their proposed treatment.

Premises regulation 

The guidelines of regulations are looking at the premises which treatments are being carried out in alongside practitioner safety, the following was commented:

There should be specific premises standards for all beauty salons and non-CQC registered premises providing non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Local Authority Enforcement Officers should be given extended powers to enforce compliance with a nationally agreed set of premises standards.

Education and training for practitioners

In the UK there is no enforcement in place to ensure practitioners undergo adequate training of aesthetic treatments before injecting the public. This includes no training standards set. At present, anyone can administer non-surgical treatments, and anyone can train them, regardless of medical and educational background. It has been called upon for qualifications and training framework to be provided to ensure a high quality of training for those in the industry.

Professor Sines shared the belief that any future education and training framework must include mandatory mental health screening. He stated:
“With education and training being set as a new standard, which of course is the spirit of the licence, within that, the curriculum would require that any person who demonstrates the proficiency to achieve that education and training standard should and will be trained in psychological and emotional screening, pre-consultation.”

We are convinced that there is a need for a minimum standard to be met in regard to the education and training of practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures. It is essential to ensure patient safety, and thus should be a central pillar of a future licensing regime. The Professional Standards Authority should be given the power to oversee a register of approved training providers. All training providers should have to meet an Ofqual-regulated standard.

Dermal Filler Remains Non-Prescription 

Botulinum toxin, more popularly known as Botox, is at least a prescription-only medicine, meaning it has to be prescribed before it can be used on a patient. Professor Sines explained that dermal fillers, on the other hand, are not prescription-only medicines and are treated as medical devices. He explained that if they were to be treated as prescription-only devices, then “there would be a requirement for oversight from prescribers, which would certainly provide greater protection for the public.”

We recommend that the Department review the licencing of dermal fillers to be prescription-only substances, in line with Botox, in order to provide more protection for people undertaking procedures involving dermal fillers.

As always, we are here to help and support you, we will continue to provide the latest updates regarding upcoming licensing. As a company we stand by the current proposal and are looking for a safer future within aesthetics. If you would like any support or information regarding our courses, please contact us on: 01844 390110 / [email protected].

You can find the latest updates in the Government Guidelines Knowledge Hub.

The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners otherwise known as the JCCP, are a ‘not for profit’ organisation that was made to bring ‘self-regulation’ to the non-surgical aesthetic sector within the UK. Due to the significant rise in the number and type of non-surgical aesthetic procedures performed in the UK, the JCCP are the body ensuring quality and safety within the aesthetics industry.

The JCCP have released three new documents providing updated guidance surrounding the following areas:

Premises Standards

Good Practice Guide for Education and Training Courses

Simplified application form for Training and Education providers who wish to be approved by the JCCP.

Updated Premises Standards

The JCCP has worked with multiple stakeholders to update and revise the previous JCCP Premises Standards in preparation for the proposed licencing scheme for non-surgical cosmetics in England. The JCCP has worked alongside key clinicians and members of the JCCP Clinical Advisory Group to produce these guidelines which are also aligned to advice provided by the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health. The new Premises Standards may be viewed at: https://www.jccp.org.uk/Home/AgentResource?id=6&type=3

Education and Training standards

The JCCP continues to campaign for the implementation of a national register of approved qualifications and of approved education and training providers and believes that the PSA (The Professional Standards Authority) should be given extended powers to oversee registers of approved education and training providers and qualifications in the sector in addition to their current statutory function of overseeing practitioner registers. We are also calling upon Ofqual to be requested to ensure they only approve qualifications that meet the new Government standard for education and training for the aesthetics sector.

The JCCP’s Education and Training Committee is aware that there is considerable variation in the approach that the cosmetic industry education and training providers take to promoting courses and the type of courses they offer students. The JCCP has therefore recently produced a ‘good practice’ guide to support education and training providers in the industry and those members of the aesthetic practitioner who seek to further develop their knowledge and skills and competencies.

The JCCP has developed this guide with the full knowledge that the Department of Health and Social Care is yet to determine whether a national mandated standard for education and training should be introduced in England for those practitioners who provide the more invasive nonsurgical cosmetic procedures.

The report on the impact of body image (July, 2021) on mental and physical health recommends that there is a need for a minimum standard to be met in regard to the education and training of practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures. It is essential to ensure patient safety, and thus should be a central pillar of a future licensing regime. This recommendation correlates and affirms recommendations of a similar nature made by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing (2021) and also resonates with the principles contained in the Health and Care Act (2022) that relate to the design and implementation of a licensing scheme for the aesthetic sector in England.

This good practice guide in part supports achieving minimum standards in education and training for providers, and furthermore the competence of individuals thereof, and sets out the JCCP’s expectations regarding ethical and accurate advertising of training courses in the sector. The guide also differentiates between pre-qualifying training courses (designed for practitioners to acquire the requisite knowledge and practice competencies to perform non-surgical procedures both safely and effectively) and short courses and CPPD courses.

Application Form for JCCP Approved Education and Training Provider Status.

The final point of the JCCP updated guidance is the JCCP Education and Training Committee have reviewed and revised the JCCP Application Form for Approved Education and Training Providers.

You can find out more information on the following JCCP updated guidance areas and access the links to each document by clicking here.

As a JCCP Approved Education and Training Provider we were featured in the newsletter section around the Fast Track Assessment Centre.

JCCP Fast Track Assessment Centre

In order to ensure that those operating in the industry are more accountable to members of the public with regards their ‘fitness to practice’ the JCCP has agreed that their registered healthcare practitioners should be able to evidence their compliance with the JCCP and CPSA published standards for practice, either by undertaking a JCCP approved qualification or by attending a JCCP approved Fast Track Assessment Centre (FTA).

The JCCP agreed last year that practitioners can apply to register with Learna’s new JCCP Fast Track Assessment (FTA) which has been specifically designed for aesthetic practitioners who are seeking to register with the JCCP. The new fast track assessment centre has been developed by online learning specialists, Learna, in collaboration with the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), and will streamline the qualifications process, enabling more cosmetic practitioners to be eligible to join the JCCP Government PSA approved register. Harley Academy and Cosmetic Courses have also been approved this year to work in association with Learna to offer JCCP Fast Track Assessment Centres. The JCCP Fast Track Assessment Centre offers practitioners an alternative to more costly and time-consuming qualifications and is the only fast track assessment course of its kind on the market that is recognised by the JCCP, resulting in the award of a formally recognised equivalent verification standard that provides unconditional access to Part One of the PSA approved JCCP Practitioner Register. Details of the JCCP/Learna Fast Track Assessment Centre process and application details may be accessed via the following link.

You can find the latest updates in the Government Guidelines Knowledge Hub.

The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners otherwise known as the JCCP, are a ‘not for profit’ organisation that was made to bring ‘self-regulation’ to the non-surgical aesthetic sector within the UK. They are the body that registers practitioners, approved education and training providers with the key remit of ensuring patient safety.

At Cosmetic Courses, we pride ourselves on the standard of the training we deliver and have a passion to make the aesthetics industry a safer place. By raising industry standards, we are helping to shape a safer future within aesthetics. The JCCP has a huge part to play in this with their strong focus on patient safety. They have recently published an important report from the Health and Social Care Select Committee, Departmental Select Committee of the British House of Commons. This report was on the Impact of Body Image on Mental and Physical Health. “The JCCP gave written and oral evidence to the Committee in June and called for a range of specific public protection measures to be put in place as soon as possible within the context of the Government’s new proposed licensing system for non-surgical treatments in England.”

The press release published by the JCCP states:

The report advises that ‘The Government must speed up the introduction of a promised licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures to prevent vulnerable people being exploited. The Impact of body image on mental and physical health report identifies a rise in body image dissatisfaction as the driver behind a new market that to date has remained largely unregulated. The dangers posed by non-surgical cosmetic procedures in vulnerable groups were evident throughout the inquiry say MPs’.

The Inquiry Team noted that ‘The Government has new powers to introduce a licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures however a consultation on what that regime should look like is still awaited. Legislation should require online commercial content to carry a logo to identify body images that have been digitally altered while the Government is urged to work with the industry and the ASA to discourage advertisers and influencers from doctoring their images’.

Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt – The Health and Social Care Committee Chair said,

“The government must act urgently to end the situation where anyone can carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures, regardless of training or qualifications. We heard of some distressing experiences – a conveyor belt approach with procedures carried out with no questions asked, procedures that have gone wrong, the use of filthy premises”.

“It was clear throughout our inquiry that some groups are particularly vulnerable to exploitation in this growing market that has gone largely unregulated. We need a timetable now for a licensing regime with patient safety at its centre to reduce those risks. We hope that ministers will listen to our recommendations and set about creating the safety standards that anyone seeking treatment has a right to expect.”

Prof. David Sines CBE – Chair of the JCCP said,

“We are delighted that the key issues raised in our representation to the Select Committee have been supported by Jeremy Hunt and his colleagues. We very much look forward to continuing our engagement with the Government and health care regulators during the forthcoming months to realise the key objective of embedding patient safety and public protection for members of the public who elect to engage with nonsurgical procedures within the context of national enforceable legislation”

Find out more about the JCCP here.

You can find the latest updates in the Government Guidelines Knowledge Hub.