This month the Scottish Government have declared that from 2016, clinics which provide cosmetic treatments such as Botox, fillers and teeth whitening etc. will require regulation. This comes after much speculation in the last few years that non-surgical treatments should be regulated to make them safer for consumers, and it’s thought England will soon do the same.

Legislation is to be brought in at Holyrood to allow Healthcare Improvement Scotland to start regulating private clinics where non-surgical cosmetic procedures are carried out from April. There is currently no regulation in the UK for such clinics which also offer procedures such as laser eye surgery. It’s estimated that one in five Scots have either had a private cosmetic procedure or have considered it, according to new research.

Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said “Cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, have increased massively in popularity over the last few years. Many people are not aware that there is no regulation of independent clinics who provide non-surgical cosmetic procedures. There are many reputable practitioners in Scotland, but unfortunately there are others who do not live up to those high standards.”

MATA Courses was launched in June 2015 to improve the standards of training in aesthetic medicine and cosmetic treatments to ensure those carrying out the treatments (that is medical professionals for injectable and medical treatments) have the best practice skills and techniques possible. We work alongside industry bodies and safety campaigns for the benefit of patients who choose to undergo these treatments.