Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2026 [Draft]
In my opening contribution, I want to spend some time reflecting on why we need the bill in the first place.
In March 2024, healthcare professionals warned that Scotland had become the worst country in Europe for unqualified practitioners injecting customers with cosmetic treatments. In its submission, the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons—that is not easy to say at this time on a Thursday—said:
“The impact on the NHS and public resources is significant. Our members are witnessing an alarming increase in severe complications from procedures performed by unqualified practitioners, many requiring emergency NHS care or even resulting in loss of life.”
Moreover, the Royal College of Nursing highlighted:
“None of the procedures listed in this Bill are without risk and there is a lack of any reliable data on the cost to the NHS of complications arising out of these procedures.”
Although we need to improve the data in order to better understand the full costs, the evidence from clinicians is clear. A survey that was conducted by the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland in October 2024 revealed that 35 per cent of respondents who worked in a medical field in Scotland had treated patients who had needed care following complications that arose from unregulated cosmetic procedures, and 86 per cent thought that the number of patients each year who seek care following complications resulting from unregulated cosmetic treatments had increased.
The proposed ban on procedures for under-18s is particularly important. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh has said:
“Facial structures continue to develop into early adulthood, and starting these procedures from a young age can have long-term effects. Procedures such as dermal fillers and Botox too young can lead to muscle atrophy and tissue damage and should rightfully only be available to those over the age of 18.”
We do need to protect young people from the damaging long-term effects of cosmetic surgery, but it is also vital, as we have heard from others, that we protect people who are over 18 from side effects. The Royal College of Surgeons lists the serious complications associated with some cosmetic procedures, including
“infections, blocked arteries, necrosis, blindness and stroke”,
and it makes it clear in its submission that the introduction of the bill will
“reduce the likelihood and severity of any risks and complications.”
However, I believe that the bill should be strengthened in that regard, and that duties should be placed on practitioners to inform customers about the risks attached to procedures. I look forward to working with the minister on that.
The committee heard that the bill could have an impact on equality, as it will affect a female-dominated industry and might lead to reduced access to cosmetic procedures in remote and rural areas. The lack of regulation in the industry has led to unsafe practices that disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, but we need to ensure that those who are safely and ethically carrying out these procedures have the ability to adapt to whatever regulation might come in.
There will always be cosmetic tourism, rogue operators and poor standards, but we cannot let them stand in the way of improving patient safety in Scotland. Those kinds of unsafe practices will occur, with or without regulation, so we should ensure that the vast majority of procedures are carried out in a safe, hygienic way in a properly controlled environment. That said, I think that we should still monitor the equality impact of the bill. I strongly believe that the bill will improve public safety for marginalised groups, as all good legislation does, but there could be unintended consequences.
In its submission to the committee, the Cleft Lip and Palate Association warned that access to cosmetic procedures becoming more bureaucratic or costly could act as a barrier
“for those who seek aesthetic enhancement to address cleft-related lip asymmetry, scarring or functional issues. It is important the Bill allows recognised healthcare professionals … working in the cleft pathway to continue to offer safe lip‐fillers or adjunctive therapies under appropriate clinical governance.”
Overall, however, the bill will improve safety for people undergoing non-surgical cosmetic procedures and protect young people under the age of 18. I believe that the evidence for regulation is clear.