Should Non – surgical cosmetic procedures be further regulated in Scotland?

By Dr Nina Koohnejad, MD

Did you know that the UK non-surgical aesthetics industry is estimated to be worth over 3 billion pounds? Many new treatments are introduced every year but treatments such as fillers, toxin and skin boosters are as popular as ever. A recent survey revealed that 50% of adult wished they could alter their appearance with 21% having already had or considered a cosmetic procedure.

What many people do not know is that the non-surgical cosmetic market in Scotland is largely unregulated and the practitioner carrying out your treatment could have NO qualifications or appropriate insurance in place. The same survey found that 75% of people WANTED restrictions introduced.

What have we done about this?

As the medical directors of Pink & Beige Medical aesthetics, my colleague and I were lucky enough to speak to Kirsten Oswald – MP for East Renfrewshire. This was a very important meeting for us and a chance to highlight this issue and do our part for our industry.

Kirsten Oswald MP debating in Westminster

We discussed the recent legislation change in Sweden which means that only doctors, dentists and nurses are allowed to offer non-surgical aesthetic procedures as of Aug 2022. This was a relevant point for us to bring up as we run an aesthetic clinic in Gothenburg. We have noticed that our Swedish customers are very happy that this new legislation has been introduced and they feel very safe attending our clinic knowing they are being seen by two medical professionals with surgical background.

We also highlighted the current issue in Scotland where anyone can offer aesthetic treatments regardless of background and skillset. We were very surprised to hear that Miss Oswald was not very aware of this and wanted to know more. She understood and shared our fears and concerns and promised to look into this.

What is Next?

The Scottish government has recently pledged to introduce legislation on licensing and restricting the administration of some treatments such as dermal fillers. We are hopeful that the Scottish government will step up in order to put patient safety first.

For now though, if you are considering an aesthetic treatment, make sure to do your research. Find out who your practitioner is and make sure they have a medial background which means that they have the skills to perform the treatments you are after and can deal with complications should they occur. Make sure they have insurance in place and are working out of a safe clinic room.