Do You Need a Licence to Perform Dermal Fillers?

Short answer: Sadly, no, but change is needed!

The UK’s aesthetic industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, but UK regulation has struggled to keep up. One of the most pressing questions in the field today is: Do you need a licence to perform dermal filler treatments?

The Current Legal Landscape

Currently, there is no specific licence required to administer dermal fillers in the UK. This means that, legally, almost anyone, regardless of their professional background, can offer dermal filler treatments.

This lack of effective regulation in the aesthetics industry is a significant and urgent concern. Dermal fillers are not simply cosmetic procedures; they are invasive treatments that can carry serious medical risks, including permanent tissue damage. Despite these risks, there are currently no mandatory training requirements, qualifications, or national safety standards for practitioners administering these treatments.

Why Regulation is Urgently Needed

The absence of oversight has led to numerous preventable complications. A notable case involved a 41-year-old woman who suffered severe complications from a botched dermal filler procedure in June 2022. During the treatment, there were immediate signs of vascular occlusion, where the filler blocks a blood vessel. The practitioner, who was not medically qualified, attempted to address the issue himself by injecting hyaluronidase instead of advising immediate medical attention. This delay resulted in skin necrosis and vision damage, leaving the patient with permanent facial scars despite six months of medical care.

Such cases highlight the urgent need for stringent regulations to protect patient safety and uphold professional accountability in aesthetic treatments. Dermal filler procedures can carry risks of serious complications, such as vascular occlusions, infections and granuloma formation, that go far beyond cosmetic concerns and can lead to severe consequences. This underscores the importance of robust regulation to ensure these treatments are performed safely and responsibly.

Change is on the Horizon

However, change is coming. The Health and Care Act 2022 ¹ has established the legal framework for a national licensing system covering non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Once fully implemented, this system will enable the government to specify which treatments require a licence and set clear qualifications and training standards to ensure safe practice.

Dermal fillers are expected to fall under this regulatory framework, and rightly so! Given their invasive nature and potential for severe complications, these treatments must only be performed by medical practitioners who meet stringent, clearly defined standards. The introduction of regulation will not only enhance patient safety but also improve public confidence and raise the overall standard of care across the aesthetics industry.

Our Position

At our academy, we’ve always believed that dermal fillers are medical treatments and should be treated as such. That means rigorous training, anatomical expertise and the ability to assess, plan and manage complications. We welcome the changes introduced in the Health and Care Act 2022 and support a regulated environment where only qualified professionals are permitted to deliver these procedures.

We don’t believe in quick fixes or “tick-box” training. Our courses are designed to develop thinking injectors, practitioners who can safely and confidently treat patients and who understand when not to treat. We train our delegates to deliver results that are not only safe and effective but ethically grounded and medically responsible.

In Summary:

• No licence is currently required for dermal fillers, but this is expected to change soon under the Health and Care Act 2022.
• The absence of regulation has led to avoidable harm, unsafe practices and the misuse of medical products.
• Fillers are not beauty treatments, they are medical procedures that require in-depth training and oversight.
• We fully support the move toward a safer, licensed aesthetic industry.

Want to train at the highest standard?

Join us and become part of the change towards safer, evidence-based, and more ethical aesthetics.

References:

1. The Health and Care Act 2022: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6363d911e90e0705a8c35457/health-and-care-act-2022-summary-and-additional-measures-impact-assessment.pdf

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