The Aesthetics Clinical Advisory Board members reflect on this year’s key trends and look ahead to what the community can expect in 2026
The UK medical aesthetics sector has experienced notable growth and transformation over the past year, driven by key themes of regulation, patient safety and treatment diversification.
Regulatory developments have been significant, with the Government proposing a licensing scheme, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) restricting remote prescribing and Scotland introducing the Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Bill. These measures have impacted the market, with 152 clinics ceasing botulinum toxin treatments between June 2024 and 2025, predominately unregulated providers.1
In parallel, practitioners are broadening their expertise, with 80% now offering multiple treatment modalities, including lasers and advanced therapies, reflecting a clear trend towards longevity-focused treatments.2 This diversification is evident in the rise of multi-treatment clinics, with three in four now offering more than one treatment type. Together, these shifts mark a dynamic and evolving landscape for medical aesthetics in the UK.
To pause for a moment of reflection and celebrate this year’s innovations and milestones, Aesthetics spoke to four aesthetic practitioners and Clinical Advisory Board (CAB) members on key advances…
