With treatments like dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections and skin boosters becoming part of modern self-care, it’s no surprise that more people are interested in working in aesthetics. For medically trained professionals, it’s an opportunity to use their clinical expertise in a more creative, flexible setting, one that often allows for greater work-life balance. Aesthetic medicine blends anatomy, patient care and clinical excellence to deliver results that not only enhance appearance but also boost confidence and wellbeing.
But here’s a question that comes up time and time again:
“Can anyone sign up for an aesthetics course?” The short (and slightly shocking) answer is:
Yes. In the UK, anyone can. And honestly? That’s a problem.
The UK Aesthetics Industry Is Still Unregulated
In the UK right now, there is no legal requirement to be a medical professional in order to train or practice injectables. That means beauty therapists, non-medics, or anyone with the budget for a short course can technically learn to inject - and even treat paying patients. We know how shocking that sounds, especially when you realise what can go wrong.
Aesthetic Injectables Are Medical Treatments
Let’s be really clear: Aesthetics might have a cosmetic outcome, but the process itself is 100% clinical. Injecting into the face involves:
- Detailed facial anatomy
- Pharmacology of prescription-only medicines
- Risk of complications like vascular occlusion, filler migration, or skin necrosis
- The ability to respond quickly to emergencies
We’ve seen real cases of blindness, permanent tissue damage and severe infections from poorly performed treatments. These aren’t rare or extreme, they happen more often than people realise. Simply put, if you do not have proper medical training, you're simply not qualified or equipped to handle them.
Why Medical Professionals Are Best Suited for Aesthetic Training
Doctors, dentists, midwives, nurses and pharmacists come into aesthetic training with a strong clinical foundation. They understand patient safety, infection control, anatomical variation and how to recognise and manage complications. That’s why we firmly believe aesthetic medicine should be taught and practised by qualified medical professionals only. It's not about gatekeeping - it’s about protecting patients and maintaining clinical standards.
So Why Do Non-Medics Still Get Trained?
Because the system is flawed. Until UK regulation catches up with the real risks involved in these treatments, anyone can slip through the cracks. This has led to a rise in non-medical practitioners completing rushed courses that offer a ‘qualification’ but little genuine clinical training.
We Need Better Regulation. Fast.
Countries like Ireland, Australia and much of Europe have clear rules about who can train and perform injectable treatments. The UK? Unfortunately, we’re still playing catch-up.
We’re often told it’s because of fragmented oversight, a rapidly growing market moving faster than regulation and political hurdles slowing progress - but quite frankly, that’s no excuse. Meanwhile, serious gaps in patient safety continue to put people at risk. There is an urgent need for clear, enforced standards that spell out exactly who’s qualified to perform these procedures - and who isn’t.
Until then, it’s up to ethical training providers and medical professionals to lead the way. That means offering medic-only education that covers not just technique, but also complications management, detailed facial anatomy, and professional ethics.
A Final Thought
Aesthetics is a medical field and deserves the same level of seriousness and responsibility as any clinical discipline. We’re committed to supporting medically trained professionals who want to deliver safe, ethical and become experts in aesthetic care - and we’ll keep supporting and pushing for stronger regulation that protects both medical practitioners and patients.
