The Consultation Outcome: What Has Been Confirmed

The government’s response to the 2024 consultation outlines plans to introduce a national licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. This will apply to both practitioners and premises offering high-risk aesthetic treatments. The aim is to standardise safety standards, training requirements, and clinical environments across the sector.

Implementation is expected from 2026, giving providers time to prepare. However, the licensing requirements will introduce new legal obligations for some practitioners, particularly those who are not already regulated healthcare professionals.

Importantly, the response also confirms that this new licensing scheme does not replace existing regulatory frameworks. If your services already fall under the scope of Care Quality Commission registration for example, if you offer regulated medical treatments you must already be registered, and this obligation will continue.

Clarity on Care Quality Commission Registration

The introduction of licensing has prompted questions about how it interacts with Care Quality Commission requirements. It is essential to understand that these are separate frameworks. Licensing aims to bring unregulated aesthetic practices into a more structured environment, whereas Care Quality Commission registration already applies to healthcare professionals providing certain medical services.

If you are a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional delivering services such as medical consultations, prescribing, or high-risk interventions, you are likely already within the Care Quality Commission remit. This remains unchanged. The new licensing scheme will likely affect practitioners who were previously operating outside that framework but are delivering treatments with comparable risk.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

One of the most common mistakes we see as regulatory consultants is the assumption that regulation only applies once new rules are enforced. In reality, many aesthetic procedures already require compliance with existing health and care legislation. We have worked with professionals who have faced enforcement action, not due to negligence, but due to a lack of clarity about their responsibilities.

With the government response now published, the direction is clear. Aesthetic medicine is moving toward a more structured and regulated future. Waiting until 2026 to act could result in missed deadlines, costly delays, or avoidable compliance issues.

What You Should Be Doing Now

This is the ideal time to ensure your practice is aligned with current and future standards. Key steps include:

• Reviewing your services to determine if they currently require Care Quality Commission registration

• Registering with the Care Quality Commission if your services fall under its scope

• Preparing your clinic premises to meet clinical safety and governance standards

• Seeking advice from qualified consultants if you are unsure about your obligations

• Staying informed about the licensing scheme’s rollout and what it will mean for your

• business

If you are not a healthcare professional but plan to continue offering aesthetic procedures, you will need to meet new training, insurance, and premises requirements once licensing is introduced.

Looking Ahead: A More Professional Future for Aesthetic Medicine

The publication of the government’s response is a turning point. We now have a clearer path toward protecting patients, supporting responsible practitioners, and elevating standards across the aesthetics field.

This is not just about compliance it is about shaping a safer, more respected future for aesthetic medicine. Healthcare professionals should see this as an opportunity to lead by example, stay ahead of regulatory changes, and build practices that are not only successful, but also clinically sound and legally protected.