Members of the Scottish Parliament have voted to pass the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill on March 17, receiving 124 votes in favour.
From September 2027, all aesthetic procedures must be delivered within a Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)-registered clinic, with a qualified prescriber onsite at all times. The legislation will now prohibit non-surgical cosmetic procedures for under-18s and introduce tighter controls on interventions such as botulinum toxin injections, dermal fillers, liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), laser treatments, chemical peels, microneedling and cellulite treatments.
Under the new law, it will be a criminal offence to provide these procedures to anyone under 18, or to carry them out outside permitted premises, with a maximum fine of £20,000. Individuals within organisations could be held personally liable for offences.
Treatments will be limited to approved clinical environments – NHS GP practices, dental practices and pharmacies, as well as private hospitals and clinics registered with HIS – and must be overseen by healthcare professionals registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Dental Council (GDC) and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Speaking on behalf of the Government on March 17, Public Health Minister Jenni Minto added, “Many people have had positive experiences with responsible and caring practitioners. But, as the sector has grown, so have stories of people who have been harmed or injured.” The legislation will also grant powers to the Scottish Government and local authorities to introduce further measures, including stipulating who may provide procedures and what training or qualifications they must hold.
Speaking to Aesthetics, nurse prescriber Frances Turner Traill shared, “This is a historic milestone for patient safety in Scotland and a long-awaited validation of medical-led model of aesthetics. By moving primary legislation, Scotland is establishing a statutory backbone for our specialty – shifting to mandatory legal requirement that cannot be bypassed. This legislation ensures that patients are guaranteed clinical oversight in a sterile, inspected setting. This collaborative approach serves as the new gold standard for regulation.”
Nurse prescriber and clinical advisory board member Jackie Partridge said, “In order for non-healthcare practitioners to become registered with HIS they must operate within a regulated setting that includes a qualified medic onsite at all times while treatments are carried out. This medic must be formally associated with the clinic, and the premises must meet the same HIS standards as those already applied to regulated healthcare providers. Before the legislation comes fully into force, further regulatory frameworks must be established by the Scottish Government, and the Bill must receive Royal Assent.”