A local aesthetic medicine clinic has welcomed plans to introduce stricter controls on non-surgical procedures in England.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has proposed a legally-enforceable licencing scheme for aesthetic procedures which will see minimum standards introduced for treatments, which will also be properly defined.

The long-awaited plan could also see the government identify tiers of procedures as well as make dermal fillers prescription-only medications.

The DHSC report highlights that current regulation of aesthetic practice places few restrictions on who can perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

It is hoped that through a regulatory framework, public safety and public protection will be improved, by enabling consumers to make informed and safe choices when undergoing procedures which have the potential to cause serious injury or harm.

It is hoped that licensing will ensure consistent standards and protect individuals from the potentially harmful physical, emotional and psychological impacts of poorly performed non-surgical cosmetic procedures by practitioners who are not appropriately trained.

The news has been welcome by Dr Shyna Raj who launched Shine Medical Cosmetic Clinic on Warwick Road in April, offering a range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

Dr Shyna left her job in the NHS to train in the field of aesthetic medicine, spending over a year training at Harley Academy London to gain her level 7 postgraduate qualification in injectables and cosmetic dermatology.

Shine Medical Cosmetic Clinic offers a range of non-surgical treatments (image supplied)

She now focusses on supporting clients achieve their goals but "without having to break the bank for it".

"It is important to remember that many non-surgical cosmetic procedures are invasive medical procedures," she said.

"Without appropriate knowledge and training and an appropriate environment to conduct such treatments, the risk of complications is increased, some of which can lead to serious and permanent harm.

"Improved regulation will protect those undergoing such treatments, by ensuring that practitioners are appropriately qualified and trained."

Government's main aims of the new aesthetics licensing scheme:

• To identify the procedures that present a risk to the public
• To consist of two interlinked components: a practitioner licence and a premises licence
• To be administered and enforced by local authorities, who will work with a range of partners such as environmental health officers, trading standards officers and the Health and Safety Executive
• To make it an offence for an individual to carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures without a licence
• To require those people who offer procedures to be suitably trained and qualified, hold appropriate indemnity cover, operate from premises which meet the scheme's standards of hygiene, infection control and cleanliness
• To introduce a minimum age of 18 for those people seeking to receive the procedures licensed under the scheme.

In his role as Chair of the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), Professor Sines said: "In recent years we have seen a massive growth in the number and types of non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

"Alongside this growth, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of complaints about substandard treatments, unregulated cosmetic products and unsuitable treatment premises.

"All too often it is the NHS – and therefore the taxpayer – that has to pick up the pieces when a cosmetic procedure goes wrong.

"The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners has seen a 400 per cent increase in complaints in the last year alone, so we warmly welcome this important step towards proper regulation.

"Nothing is more important than public protection and patient safety."

For further details here.

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