UK MPs Demand Ban on High-Risk Cosmetic Procedures Like Brazilian Butt Lifts
Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum are urging the Labour Party government to take decisive action against dangerous cosmetic procedures. A parliamentary committee has called for an immediate ban on high-risk treatments, including Brazilian butt lifts, following a nine-month inquiry that revealed alarming industry practices.
Unregulated Industry Puts Public at Risk
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has described the current state of non-surgical cosmetic procedures as a "wild west" industry. Their investigation found that a complete lack of regulation has led to procedures being performed in inappropriate locations, including:
- Garden sheds and outbuildings
- Hotel rooms and Airbnb accommodations
- Public toilets and other unsuitable environments
Committee chair Sarah Owen emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that procedures deemed high-risk should be banned immediately without further consultation.
Immediate Ban Recommended for Dangerous Procedures
The committee's report specifically targets procedures that have resulted in fatalities and serious injuries. Liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) and liquid breast augmentations top the list of treatments that should be outlawed immediately. These procedures have been shown to pose serious threats to patient safety, with some resulting in life-changing and life-threatening injuries.
"The government is not moving quickly enough in introducing such a system," the MPs stated in their report. "At present, individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially harmful interventions, placing the public at risk."
Proposed Licensing System for Lower-Risk Procedures
While calling for immediate bans on the most dangerous treatments, the committee also recommended establishing a comprehensive licensing system for lower-risk cosmetic procedures. This system would ensure that only properly qualified practitioners could perform these treatments, providing much-needed protection for consumers.
The report specifically calls for this licensing framework to be introduced within the current parliamentary term, emphasizing that regulatory action needs to be accelerated to keep pace with the industry's rapid expansion.
Decade of Inaction Has Led to Increased Harm
Sarah Owen highlighted how regulatory failures have persisted for over a decade. "In 2013, the head of the NHS warned that a person having a non-surgical cosmetic intervention has no more protection than someone buying a toothbrush," she noted. "Over a decade later, the only thing that has changed is the number of people suffering life-changing and life-threatening injuries."
The committee's findings reveal a critical gap between industry growth and consumer protection, with MPs from all political parties now united in demanding urgent government intervention to prevent further harm to the public.
