Government proposes ban on non-doctors performing liquid Brazilian butt lifts

What was announced

Health Minister Karin Smyth and the Department of Health and Social Care published draft rules targeting high-risk cosmetic treatments.

Body fillers injected anywhere other than the face, such as liquid Brazilian butt lifts, will be legally classified as surgical procedures. Only doctors will be allowed to perform them.

Other high-risk treatments will be restricted to a narrow group of healthcare professionals. These treatments include vampire facials (which use a patient's own blood on their skin), deep chemical peels, dermal micro-coring, and certain laser treatments. Aside from doctors and dentists, only nurses, midwives, and pharmacists who hold accredited prescribing qualifications will be permitted to carry them out.

The proposals also ban anyone under 18 from receiving cosmetic surgery and other high-risk treatments. Anyone who violates these rules could face criminal prosecution, with courts able to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £4,000 or unlimited fines.

A public consultation on the measures is open until 13 January 2027. The government plans to bring the legislation to Parliament in spring 2027.

What it means

People seeking major cosmetic changes will no longer be legally treated by non-medical practitioners. The rules aim to end practices where untrained individuals operate in unregulated spaces like hotel rooms.

Patients booking body fillers will need to see a qualified doctor. Those booking treatments like deep peels or vampire facials will have to ensure their provider is an authorized prescriber, doctor, or dentist.

Separate plans remain in place for lower-risk treatments. The department affirmed that a licensing scheme will follow for lip fillers and botulinum toxin products (commonly called Botox) to stop unregulated clinics.

What the announcement does not tell us

The announcement leaves several practical details unresolved:

• It does not state the exact timetable for when the licensing scheme for lower-risk procedures, such as Botox and lip fillers, will begin.
• It does not explain how enforcement officers will locate rogue operators working in private spaces or hotel rooms.
• It does not list every specific laser procedure that falls under the high-risk category.
• It does not state how many people currently receive these treatments each year.