What Transpired with Aesthetics Regulation in 2024
In summary
The answer is straightforward: there was no official advancement in aesthetics regulation in England during 2024.
Discussions about this topic began nearly a decade ago when I first considered pursuing training in the field. Although it has been presented to parliament, no official authority has mandated the necessity of level 5 or 7 qualifications. Further discussions were anticipated last year, but these were postponed, and subsequent elections and changes in parliament have complicated the situation even more. Delays have been ongoing for years. While the topic has consistently been on the table, it has yet to be implemented. There has been minimal progress in recent years, but delays continue to accumulate. I agree that regulation is essential for the industry; I’ve witnessed some inadequate training and practitioners. However, I would advise against stressing over it at this moment. The speculation around level 5 and 7 requirements has been misrepresented as definitive needs, but no official announcements have been made regarding this.
The proposed traffic light system remains uncertain, and its implementation is still unknown. What official bodies are suggesting is that practitioners will require a clinic license from their local council, similar to tattoo artists, piercers, and semi-permanent makeup (SPMU) artists. Additionally, there will be standards for training that each practitioner must meet. There have been discussions about considering prior experience, and if or when legislation is enacted, a grace period of 1-2 years to comply may be granted, along with potential funding options; however, nothing has been confirmed. Progress on this matter has come to a halt due to changes in parliament following Rishi Sunak’s departure as head of government. It remains unclear whether the current parliament will pursue this issue further.
We advise that you follow current insurance requirements and industry standards. This is particularly important if you are a total beginner, you will need to do an insurance approved course.
Further details
In contrast, Wales has introduced a new licensing scheme for establishments offering non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as electrolysis and tattoos, effective from November 29, 2024.
The last official update regarding the aesthetics licensing scheme was in 2023. The first government communication concerning aesthetics regulation in England was released in September 2023, marking the beginning of several proposals related to non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
This initial communication included several factors of discussion:
- EA risk-based RAG (Red/Amber/Green) rating system for procedures concerning public safety
- EDefining which aesthetic practitioners are qualified to perform specific treatments based on these ratings
- ERequiring two mandatory licenses for all practitioners: one for themselves and one for their premises (just like SPMU and tattooing now) it’s not as scary as you may think. They will just come out to the premises to check it’s suitable and your using legitimate products
- EPotentially restricting certain procedures to appropriately trained and qualified medical professionals, while licensed non-medics who complete specific training may administer certain treatments under medical supervision. This last point sparked significant debate
These proposals were published on the Department of Health Social Care (DHSC) website on September 2, 2023, initiating a consultation period where industry professionals, patients, and the general public could provide feedback. We submitted our consultation response to the government on our website.
The consultation period concluded on September 28, 2023, with expectations for findings to be released in late Spring 2024; however, this did not occur.
As of December 2024, the initial proposals from September 2, 2023, remain the most recent official communication from the government regarding aesthetics regulation.
▎What Is Causing the Delay in Implementing an Aesthetics Licensing Scheme?
As previously mentioned, only the first proposal and consultation have taken place so far. So, what has transpired?
Delays have arisen due to general elections and changes in government. When then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a General Election in May 2024, the most recent timelines faced their first setback.
We were anticipating an announcement regarding the response to the first consultation when the election news broke. This effectively halted any related activities as government ministers shifted their focus, resulting in further delays.
There was hope that progress would resume. However, as you may know, that did not occur. In fact, it still hasn’t happened.
As of January 2025, this has led to an eight-month delay in the process. However, it remains unclear whether Labour intends to adhere to the previous DHSC plans and continue with the proposed approach of consultations and responses.
Will Aesthetics Regulation Occur in 2025?
The straightforward answer that it’s highly unlikely as we do not know if the current Labour Party will continue with the legislation plans at all as they have much more pressing matters to deal with.
Given the extensive work still required, it’s clear we are off track for a full regulatory framework implementation by 2026 and we do not know when, or if they are going to be put into place at all. We are also unsure of what the regulations will be and if labour decide to go ahead with the regulations, we are unsure if they will stick to the previously discussed terms.
