The aesthetics licensing scheme in England: what we know so far
Licensing for non-surgical cosmetic procedures is coming to England. Here is what has been confirmed, what is still open, and what clinics can do now.
Where the law comes from
Section 180 of the Health and Care Act 2022 gives the Secretary of State the power to create a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. The Department of Health and Social Care consulted on the scheme between September and October 2023, and published its response on 7 August 2025.
The green, amber and red model
Procedures will be grouped by risk:
| Group | What the government has proposed |
|---|---|
| Green | Lower-risk procedures. Practitioners and premises licensed by the local authority. |
| Amber | Higher-risk procedures. Local authority licence, with oversight from a qualified healthcare professional. |
| Red | Highest-risk procedures, such as non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts and fillers injected into the breasts, buttocks or genitals. Restricted to qualified healthcare professionals at CQC-registered providers. |
What is still to be decided
- The final list of procedures in each group, including where facial anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers sit
- Training and qualification standards for each group
- The start date. As of October 2026 no regulations have been laid
Do aesthetic clinics need CQC registration today?
Only if they carry out a regulated activity. Purely cosmetic treatments, such as anti-wrinkle injections for lines and dermal fillers, are not currently regulated by CQC. Treating a medical condition, surgical procedures such as mole removal, and diagnostic tests are. Check your scope.
What to do now
- Review the treatments you offer and who carries them out.
- Put written governance in place: consent, records, infection prevention, complications and insurance.
- Keep training and qualification evidence for every practitioner.
- If you offer any regulated activity, register with CQC now rather than waiting.
We will update this page when the government publishes more detail. Compliance members get an alert as soon as anything changes.