Manchester Civil Justice Centre has issued a court order, following civil action led by Trafford Council, prohibiting Ricky Sawyer from conducting cosmetic procedures anywhere in England and Wales until May 2028.
This comes following the court’s review of extensive evidence documenting serious harm to multiple individuals as a result of unsafe injectable procedures, including the liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL). The evidence presented included graphic photographs and video footage showing complications such as sepsis, tissue necrosis, and permanent disfigurement.
Sawyer, who is not a registered medical professional, had been carrying out high-risk aesthetic treatments without recognised clinical training or regulatory oversight. The injunction prohibits him from performing or facilitating any invasive cosmetic procedures and from possessing surgical instruments or prescription-only medicines associated with such treatments, unless they are prescribed for his personal use.
A power of arrest was attached to key provisions of the order, allowing for immediate enforcement if he breaches its terms. Judge McAdam, presiding over the case, emphasised the scale and severity of patient harm, stating that the scope of the injunction was necessary to protect the public from further injury.
The case has been widely welcomed by Environmental Health professionals and the JCCP, who view it as a strong example of the evolving regulatory response to unsafe practice in the non-surgical cosmetic field.
In the absence of a national licensing framework, local authorities have increasingly relied on civil enforcement and environmental health powers to respond to unregulated activity. This case was supported by the October 2024 Guidance for Enforcement by Local Authority Authorised Officers, which classifies procedures such as buttock, breast and genital augmentation using dermal fillers or autologous fat as surgical in nature. The guidance makes clear that such treatments fall outside the scope of standard non-surgical cosmetic interventions and should only be performed by regulated medical professionals in clinical environments.
The case further highlights the risks posed by practitioners operating outside established clinical governance frameworks, particularly when treatments are marketed via social media or delivered in uncontrolled settings.
Andrew Rankin, trustee of the JCCP, commented, “This outcome is testament to the hard work and commitment to public safety of Environmental Protection Officers nationally, and it demonstrates the value of the coordinated approach that was necessary in this instance.”
Mark Elliott, president of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, added, “This injunction illustrates how collaboration to produce clear enforcement guidance can help local authorities to act swiftly and decisively to protect the public.”
