New Rules on High-Risk Cosmetic Procedures

Cosmetic Procedures

Cosmetic treatments in England are set for their biggest shake-up in years. In October 2026, the government set new rules on who can carry out high-risk procedures and who can have them. If you’re considering cosmetic surgery or a non-surgical treatment, it’s a good moment to understand what’s changing and what it means when choosing a practitioner.

What Are the New Cosmetic Procedure Rules?

At the moment, there are few restrictions on who can perform many ‘no scalpel’ treatments, even those that can cause serious harm if done badly. Under the proposals:

  • Fillers injected anywhere other than the face, including liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), will be legally classed as cosmetic surgery, so only doctors will be able to perform them.
  • Other high-risk non-surgical treatments, such as deep chemical peels, vampire facials and some laser procedures, will be limited to trained doctors, dentists and certain nurses, midwives and pharmacists.
  • Cosmetic surgery and high-risk treatments will be banned for under-18s.
  • Rogue providers will face new criminal offences and fines.

The draft rules are now open for consultation, and the plans are expected to go before Parliament in spring 2027. A separate licensing scheme for lower-risk treatments has also been announced.

Why Liquid BBLs and Body Fillers Are Being Classed as Surgery

Injecting large volumes of filler into the body carries real risks. These include infection, filler moving to other areas and, in rare cases, filler entering the bloodstream. Classing these procedures as surgery reflects those risks. Earlier this year, we also looked at how breast fillers can make breast cancer harder to detect. It’s another reason body fillers deserve far more caution than their ‘lunchtime’ marketing suggests.

How to Choose a Qualified Cosmetic Surgeon

The new rules are a welcome step. However, the Royal College of Surgeons of England has said they don’t go far enough, pointing out that a medical licence alone shouldn’t qualify a doctor to perform cosmetic surgery. That’s worth bearing in mind. The safest choice is a surgeon with specific surgical training in the procedure you’re considering.

Before booking any procedure, check:

  • The practitioner is on the GMC register and, for surgery, has specialist training in plastic surgery
  • They are a member of a professional body such as BAAPS or BAPRAS
  • Treatment takes place in a CQC-registered hospital or clinic
  • You’ll have a proper consultation, time to reflect and clear aftercare arrangements

If the price seems too good to be true, or you feel pressured to book quickly, take a step back.

Mr Nigel Horlock is a GMC-registered consultant plastic surgeon. He carries out cosmetic surgery across Southampton, Salisbury, Dorchester and Bournemouth, alongside his NHS work at Salisbury District Hospital. If you’d like to talk through your options for breast, body or facial surgery in a safe, unhurried setting, get in touch to arrange a consultation.

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