Scotland’s Aesthetics Regulations are Changing….
On 17 March 2026, Scotland became the first part of the UK to introduce legislation to regulate non-surgical procedures.
The Scottish Parliament passed the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill with enforcement powers granted to Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
A transition period is in place until September 2027, which gives practitioners a defined timeframe to prepare for the introduction of statutory licensing, supervision requirements and stronger oversight across the sector.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PRACTITIONERS AND PATIENTS
The aesthetic industry in Scotland is undergoing some of the biggest changes it has ever seen.
The new Bill will significantly impact who can perform injectable treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers and skin booster – and under what conditions.
While these changes are ultimately aimed at improving patient safety, they are understandably causing uncertainty across the industry.
WHAT HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED?
Under the new legislation, injectable aesthetic treatments will now require:
Treatment within a Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) regulated clinic
Oversight from a qualified prescribing professional
A structured, clinically governed environment for all procedures
Procedures for under-18s are prohibited.
This means that practitioners who are not prescribers – including many experienced aesthetic nurses – will no longer be able to carry out treatments independently unless working within this framework.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
The aesthetic industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, but regulation has struggled to keep up.
Unfortunately, this has led to:
Inconsistent training standards
Unsafe treatment environments
A rise in complications from poorly performed procedures
The Scottish Governments aim is to bring aesthetics more in line with healthcare – prioritising patient safety, accountability, and high clinical standards.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PATIENTS
From a patient’s perspective, these changes bring important benefits:
Safer treatment environments
Greater clinical oversight
Clearer accountability
Improved standards across the industry
Please be reassured that at Gwen Inglis Aesthetics we already operate within a medically regulated Healthcare Improvement Scotland clinic where your advanced nurse practitioner is an Independent Nurse Prescriber.
