the New UK Licensing Regulations for Aesthetic Procedures: Statement from Dr Paris Acharya

While the newly announced licensing framework marks a small and long-overdue step in the right direction, it falls significantly short of the level of regulation required to ensure patient safety in the field of aesthetic medicine.

If dermal fillers are considered medical only when administered to the body, why are facial fillers treated differently especially in regards to complications such as vascular occlusion and blindness which are far more serious and, in some cases, irreversible?

The recent focus on sepsis from gluteal filler procedures is valid, but we must not overlook the catastrophic risks associated with poorly performed facial treatments. Blindness from incorrectly placed filler is permanent and life-altering.

The solution is both clear and pragmatic: restrict the practice of aesthetic medicine to qualified medical healthcare professionals. Medically trained practitioners are already held to regulatory standards, insured, clinically governed, and committed to continuous professional development.

This would remove the need for separate, costly licensing structures and instantly elevate the safety and integrity of the industry.

It remains deeply concerning that the UK continues to be one of the only countries in the world where non-medical individuals are legally allowed to perform high-risk aesthetic procedures.

It is time we prioritise patient safety over profit and bring this growing sector under proper medical governance.

Dr Paris Acharya BDS (Hons) MBChB MFDS MRCS Ed

Co-Founder, Ardour Clinic