On 21 October 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published draft rules and opened a public consultation on regulating high-risk cosmetic procedures in England. If you are training for a career in beauty or aesthetics, or thinking about it, here is what has been announced, what has not, and how to choose a course with confidence.
The short version
The Government is regulating in two steps. Step one, covered by this consultation, restricts a defined list of the highest-risk procedures to regulated healthcare professionals. Step two, licensing of everyday “high street” treatments, is expected to follow. In the Government’s words, licensing of high-street treatments “will subsequently go further”.
Nothing here is law yet. These are draft regulations, and Parliament must approve them first. The consultation is open until 11:59pm on 13 January 2027.
What the draft rules would restrict
Under the draft, these procedures could only be performed by doctors, dentists, and independent prescribing nurses, midwives and pharmacists, working for providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC):
- Cosmetic surgery, including filler into any part of the body other than the face (doctors only)
- Deep chemical peels
- Dermal microcoring
- Intravenous procedures for cosmetic or wellbeing purposes
- Specified high-risk laser and intense pulsed light treatments
- Non-resorbable facial fillers
- Subcision
- Blood-derived procedures such as PRP therapy
- Any cosmetic procedure involving a separate an aesthetic injection
The draft would also restrict these procedures to people aged 18 and over. Breaking the rules would be a criminal offence, enforced by the CQC.
What this means for beauty therapy training
The draft restricted list is a specific, clinical one. Everyday beauty and wellness treatments such as waxing, massage and facials are not on it.
That matters for the courses we teach at Affable Therapy in Croydon. Our Access to Aesthetics and Beauty Level 2 NVQ courses, our complementary therapy courses (including massage, pregnancy massage, hot stone massage and head massage), and our waxing and Hydrafacial training are built around everyday beauty and wellness skills, not the procedures on the draft restricted list.
Microneedling needs a closer look. Microneedling itself is not named on the list. However, treatments that combine it with PRP, or with a separate anaesthetic injection, would be restricted, and so would deep chemical peels. Step two, the licensing of everyday treatments, could also affect microneedling, and the details have not been confirmed. If you are considering a Level 4 or VTCT microneedling course, it is worth keeping an eye on how the proposals develop.
What the draft does not say
It is easy to read alarming headlines and assume everything is about to change. A few points worth knowing:
- The draft does not set out specific courses or qualification levels for each procedure. Practitioners are expected to work within their own competence and scope of practice.
- Holding a particular qualification does not, on its own, allow someone to perform the restricted procedures. The draft rules are based on being a regulated healthcare professional with independent prescribing responsibilities.
- The exact scope of step two has not been published, so nobody can honestly promise that a course will guarantee your future treatments.
Be cautious of any training provider that says otherwise, or that uses countdown deals and “last places” pressure to get you to enrol quickly.
How to choose a training course wisely
Whatever you decide to study, these questions will help you choose a good provider:
- What exactly will I be qualified to do? Ask for the treatments covered and the awarding body, in writing.
- Is the qualification regulated, and by whom? A certificate of attendance and a regulated qualification are different things. Check the awarding body’s own website to confirm.
- How much practical, hands-on training is included? You should practise on real models under supervision.
- Will I get insurance, and what are the requirements? Insurers set their own rules, so ask them directly.
- Does the provider talk honestly about regulation? A good one will explain what is known and what is still being decided.
Have your say
The consultation is open to everyone, including students, practitioners and training providers. You can read the consultation and respond on GOV.UK: Restrictions on the performance of high-risk cosmetic and wellbeing procedures in England. Responses only count if you reach the end of the survey and submit.
After it closes, the Government will publish its response and final regulations, which will be debated in Parliament. A transition period is expected before any restrictions take effect.
Train with Affable Therapy in Croydon
We will keep following these proposals and share updates as they develop. If you would like to talk through which course is right for you, whether that is Access to Aesthetics, Beauty Level 2 NVQ or one of our complementary therapy courses, our team is happy to help.
For enquiry click here: https://affabletherapy.com/contact/
This article is a general summary of a draft Government consultation published on 21 October 2026. It is not legal advice, and the proposals may change before any rules become law. For full detail, read the official consultation document on GOV.UK.
