The Scottish Government has confirmed the introduction of a Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures Bill as part of its Year Five Legislative Programme, published in the Programme for Government 2025-26: Building The Best Future For Scotland. Announced on May 6, the proposed legislation aims to regulate the delivery of certain aesthetic procedures performed for cosmetic or lifestyle purposes, in a bid to improve public safety and industry standards.
A new framework for aesthetic procedures
The forthcoming Bill will establish legal requirements for certain non-surgical procedures to be carried out in registered premises by practitioners who meet specified standards. It will also set out enforcement measures to ensure service providers comply with these regulations. The legislation is expected to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament before May 2026.
Background: Public consultation and categorisation
The legislation follows a public consultation held from December 20, 2024 to February 14, 2025, which explored the introduction of a licensing scheme for non-surgical aesthetic procedures. The consultation mirrored a similar initiative previously undertaken in England and sought to categorise cosmetic treatments based on their complexity and associated risk.
The Scottish consultation proposed three procedural groups:
Group 1: Treatments that can be performed in licensed premises or Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)-regulated settings by trained and licensed non-healthcare practitioners. These included:
- Microneedling
- Superficial chemical peels
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
- LED therapy
- Tattoo removal lasers
- Laser hair removal
Group 2: Procedures allowed only in HIS-regulated settings and conducted by non-healthcare practitioners under the supervision of healthcare professionals. These included:
- Mesotherapy
- Botulinum toxin injections
- Dermal fillers
- Medium-depth peels
- Photorejuvenation
- Radiofrequency, HIFU
- Cryolipolysis
Group 3: High-risk procedures that must be conducted by an appropriate healthcare professional in an HIS-regulated setting. This group encompassed:
- PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections
- Injection microsclerotherapy
- Injection lipolysis
- Dermal microcoring
- Phenol chemical peels
- Deep laser treatments
- Thread lifts
- Electrocautery, cryotherapy, and carboxytherapy
- Any group 1 or 2 procedure performed on intimate areas (excluding tattooing and piercing)
The consultation results have yet to determine which treatments will officially fall into each group once the Bill is enacted.
Raising standards and ensuring safety
The Scottish Government’s move signals a growing recognition of the need to regulate an industry that has, until now, operated with minimal oversight in many areas. By introducing the Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures Bill, the government aims to safeguard individuals undergoing aesthetic treatments while ensuring providers meet rigorous and enforceable quality standards.
Further details, including the final classification of procedures and the scope of the Bill, will be released as it progresses through Parliament.
To read the full Programme for Government 2025-26: Building The Best Future For Scotland, visit the official Scottish Government website:
https://www.gov.scot/ 
