Over the past decade, the UK has witnessed an unprecedented rise in non-surgical aesthetic procedures. However, this rapid growth has come with significant challenges:

• A lack of consistent regulation across procedures.

• Practitioners, both clinically and non-clinically trained, performing treatments without sufficient oversight.

• Increasing patient complaints, even against clinically trained professionals.

• Uneven safety and quality standards due to the absence of mandatory inspections for many premises.

Addressing the challenges

To protect patients/members of the public and ensure high-quality care, a robust framework is essential—one that defines clear competences for each procedure alongside rigorous clinical and practice-based standards. These efforts have culminated in the formation of:

• The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP): Overseeing voluntary regulation to uphold industry accountability.

• The Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA): Establishing evidence-based, clinical practice standards to guide the industry.

Our core principles

At the heart of the JCCP/CPSA framework are five core principles that drive our mission to create a safer, more ethical industry:

• Patient safety – The foundation of everything we do.

• Ethical practice – A clear code of conduct to guide practitioners.

• Independence – Free from conflicts of interest, focused solely on quality and safety.

• Inclusivity – Recognising and addressing the equality and diverse needs of all stakeholders.

• Fairness and sustainability – Ensuring a balanced, long-term approach to standards and regulation.

Why the framework matters

The UK's non-surgical aesthetics sector has faced several challenges over the years:

• Lack of unified standards: No universal guidelines for education, clinical practice, procedures or products.

• Unregulated training: A fragmented training market with limited ties to recognised and approved qualifications.

• Limited public guidance: No centralised resource for members of the public seeking advice on non-surgical treatments.

• Rapid increase of new procedures: Growth in innovations, often without sufficient evaluation of safety and effectiveness.

• Misleading advertising: Campaigns that overpromise results while understating risks and identifying and reporting illegal advertising practice.

The establishment of the JCCP and CPSA marks a turning point in addressing these issues and ensuring the highest standards of safety, transparency, and care in non-surgical aesthetics.

Together, we're shaping the future of aesthetics with safety, ethics, and excellence at the forefront.