It is alarming and of course distressing to hear of cases where people have suffered as a result of non-surgical cosmetic procedures going wrong. The current gaps in regulation means that anyone can perform most of these procedures without the need for any formal training or qualifications. As Minister for Public Health this is something I am working hard to address.
Like me, Herald readers will probably have read or heard about reports from people who have experienced complications due to non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as facial dermal fillers or ‘Brazilian butt lifts’. READ MORE: VIDEO What's it like to undergo Scotland's newest skin-tightening treatment? The Herald goes inside Scotland's booming cosmetic sector - Read all the articles here 'It'll take someone dying': Inside 'wild west' of Scotland's unregulated cosmetic sector The non-surgical cosmetic sector is a fast-changing industry. It continues to expand as new procedures that pierce and penetrate the skin become available.
Independent healthcare clinics in Scotland are already regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, but this is a sector that across the UK is not, as yet, fully regulated. I want to change that; to close the current gaps in regulation to keep people safe when they choose these procedures. The Scottish Government is considering what requirements can be put in place to reduce the potential for harm from riskier procedures and ensure this is a safer sector for everyone.
Therefore, we wan.