Cheap Botox, fillers and cosmetic surgery are contributing to a ‘wild west’ in the beauty industry, experts say.
It comes after the Scottish Government unveiled plans earlier this year to crack down on ‘cowboy’ procedures carried out by non-qualified professionals.
Dermal fillers and the use of Botox must be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional, while ‘breast and buttock augmentations’ must be carried out by a qualified professional according to plans.
The sector, which is not fully regulated, means that anyone can carry out the procedures without formal training.
Trading standards leaders warned earlier this year that fat injections, Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), Botox and fillers are being offered by untrained people in places like public toilets.
Safety improvements and standards in the sector have been set by Holyrood, with a minimum age of 18 established for all procedures.
On Tuesday, those in the industry gave evidence to a Holyrood committee on non-surgical procedures.
Victoria Brownlie, from the British Beauty Council, said: “There are others involved in a race to the bottom with cheap prices.
“They are in competition with each other because there is so much more accessibility to providers than there was five or 10 years ago.
“This ‘wild, wild west’ thing sounds dramatic, but in the end it’s a bit of Russian roulette when you go and have treatments as to whether you’re going to have a safe procedure or not.”
Lesley Blair MBE, from the British Association of Beauty Therapists and Cosmetologists, added: “What we don’t want to do is encourage people to do a nursing degree only to leave and come into aesthetics.
“Then there is the burden on the NHS to pay for it and not get the benefit of it.”
Meanwhile, Lynsey Wilson, co-chair of the Scottish Aesthetics Safety Standards Group, said: “If we can’t get enough prescribers to facilitate these clinics, they may have to close.
“This pushes consumers to not have the same safe access to treatments that they previously had.”
What does the new bill provide?
The Non-Surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 8 October 2025 and is currently at Stage 1.
Treatments have been classified into three groups according to the risks involved. They are:
- Group 1 – such as microneedling and non-ablative laser treatments – will require both a facility license and individual practitioner licenses issued by local authorities
- Group 2 – includes injectable products such as Botox and dermal fillers – should be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional in an environment regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)
- Group 3 – includes procedures such as breast and buttock augmentation – should be carried out by a qualified healthcare professional in an environment regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Public Health Minister Jenny Minto said earlier this year: “It is deeply upsetting to hear of cases where people have suffered as a result of non-surgical cosmetic procedures gone wrong.
“Current loopholes in regulations mean that anyone can carry out most of these procedures without needing any formal training or qualifications.
“These proposals reflect our determination to protect the public and ensure high standards in this growing industry.
“I am particularly encouraged by the widespread support for action to make the sector safer and we will continue to work closely with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, local authorities and the wider industry to support a smooth and effective implementation.”
‘I thought I’d had a stroke after botox – my face had fallen off’
STV News previously spoke to a woman who thought she was having a stroke after her face began to droop following a ‘bargaining’ procedure.
Florence Docherty, who had a mini facelift three months ago after seeing an Instagram ad, started experiencing numbness and tingling in her face weeks after the procedure.
When she smiled, her face fell to one side.
During the procedure, a muscle in her face that was not supposed to be injected with Botox was hit.
Florence has since visited a medical aesthetics clinic in Barrhead, which confirmed the treatment she was promised was not possible.
Florence said when she had the procedure, he didn’t explain to her what Botox would be used for, but that she didn’t ask why it was a “bargain.”
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