Experts warn cosmetic surgery patients are still exposed to harm without regulation
06 Aug 2026
One year after the Government announced it would introduce new legislation for high-risk cosmetic procedures, leading surgical and medical organisations have warned that patients continue to face unnecessary risk because cosmetic surgery in England can still legally be performed by doctors without specialist surgical qualifications.
In an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, a coalition of royal colleges, specialist surgical associations, and patient safety organisations, led by the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), has called on the Government to publish the promised consultation and use it to strengthen protections for patients undergoing cosmetic surgery.
The letter is also signed by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh KBE, whose landmark independent review into cosmetic interventions first called for comprehensive reform of the sector more than a decade ago, in 2013.
The group argues that while proposals for a ‘red list’ of high-risk cosmetic procedures are welcome, they will not sufficiently protect patients unless surgical procedures on the list can only be carried out by appropriately trained specialist surgeons.
Currently, any doctor registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) can legally perform cosmetic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, facelifts and liposuction, even if they are not recognised as specialist surgeons and are not listed on the GMC Specialist Register.
This means patients who have cosmetic surgery may believe the person performing the procedure has received specialist surgical training when the current law doesn’t require this to be the case.
Professor Vivien Lees, Spokesperson on Cosmetic Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said:
“Patients will rightly assume that anyone performing invasive cosmetic surgery has undergone the specialist surgical training and assessment required to carry out these complex procedures safely. The reality is that the law does not currently guarantee this.
“There is a clear consensus that this issue requires urgent regulation to protect patients. The government should publish its consultation without further delay and take action to ensure that high-risk cosmetic surgery is only carried out by appropriately trained specialist surgeons, giving patients the confidence they deserve.”
Professor Sir Bruce Keogh KBE, said:
"Thirteen years after the Independent Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions in 2013, complex cosmetic surgery performed by under qualified practitioners remains an avoidable risk to the public that could be reduced by tighter regulation that recognises the risk of some of cosmetic procedures.”
The letter to the Health Secretary also states that concerns about the cosmetic procedures industry have been repeatedly highlighted by parliamentarians, including the Women and Equalities Committee and the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, as well as by public campaigns such as the Mirror's ‘Ban the Cosmetic Cowboys’ campaign and the Royal College of Surgeons of England's ‘Trust Your Treatment’ campaign.
The signatories warn that cosmetic surgery is not risk-free, and that failures in regulation can have devastating consequences for patients.
Complications from unregulated cosmetic procedures can lead to serious injury, long-term physical and psychological harm, and in some cases death.
The letter also highlights the wider impact on NHS services. Patients who experience complications often require emergency treatment, hospital care, and ongoing support from the NHS, placing additional pressure on already stretched services.
The organisations are urging ministers to publish the consultation and ensure that the forthcoming consultation on cosmetic procedures delivers meaningful legislative reform.
Specifically, they want surgical procedures designated as high risk to be restricted to surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register who have the appropriate training, qualifications and expertise for the procedures they perform. The letter also suggests that patients considering cosmetic surgery should find practitioners who have been independently recognised through the Cosmetic Surgery Board Certification Scheme.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/Files/RCS/News-and-events/Media-centre/Cosmetic-surgery-joint-open-letter-to-Secretary-of-State.pdf
2. Signatories include:
- Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England)
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd)
- Association of Breast Surgery (ABS)
- British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)
- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS)
- British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
- British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS)
- British Society of Facial Plastic Surgery (BSFPS)
- Save Face
- Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP)
- Plastic Surgery Trainees Association (PLASTA)
- Professor Sir Bruce Keogh KBE
4. Professor Sir Bruce Keogh KBE chaired the independent Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions, commissioned by the Department of Health and published in 2013 following the PIP breast implant scandal. The review called for comprehensive reform of both cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including stronger regulation to improve patient safety. Read more: The Keogh Review’: Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions
5. Cosmetic Surgery Board Certification Scheme — Royal College of Surgeons
6. The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients.
7. For further information, please contact the Royal College of Surgeons of England press office on 020 7869 6053/6054/6047 or pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk.