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Cosmetic Surgery: Licensing

Asked by Tom GordonLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 22 July 2025UIN 68041

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring forward (a) regulations and (b) a licensing regime for practitioners of cosmetic surgery.

Answered by Karin Smyth

All doctors performing cosmetic surgery in the United Kingdom are required to be registered and licensed to practise by the General Medical Council. The Care Quality Commission regulates cosmetic treatments carried out by healthcare professionals in England that involve surgical procedures.

The Government is committed to taking action to address longstanding concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach in our response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we will publish at the earliest opportunity.

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