The Government Proposed Traffic Light System

All practitioners are eligible to perform licensed procedures where they meet agreed standards.

We propose this includes, but is not limited to,the following procedures:

• microneedling
• mesotherapy
• intense pulsed light (IPL) and light emitting diode (LED) therapies
• chemical peels that involve destruction only into viable epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin)
• ‘no-needle’ fillers including pneumatic devices that use intense pressure to pass substances through the epidermis
• micropigmentation (semi-permanent make up), including microblading and nanoblading
• non-ablative laser hair removal
• photo rejuvenation (the use of a laser to treat skin conditions including wrinkles, acne scarring, sun damage)

Licensed aesthetic practitioners must have relevant oversight by a named regulated healthcare professional (who has gained an accredited qualification to prescribe, administer and supervise aesthetic procedures). 

Qualified and regulated healthcare professionals are eligible to perform these procedures without oversight where they meet agreed standards.

We propose this includes, but is not limited to, the following procedures:

• botulinum toxin injections
• semi-permanent dermal fillers injected into the face only
• biorevitalization injections and/or any injection of hyaluronic acid
• vitamin and mineral injection procedures
• platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy for cosmetic purposes and Biofiller
• injection microsclerotherapy (spider vein treatment)
• weight loss injections
• carboxytherapy and/or the infusion of gases under the skin
• cellulite subcision
• injection lipolysis with a POM
• cryolipolysis
• high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), including intimate use
• radiofrequency treatments
• plasma ablation or plasma fibroblast
• non-ablative lasers (excluding photo rejuvenation and laser hair removal)
• medium depth peels that involve full thickness destruction of entire epidermis into upper dermis (the inner layer of the 2 main layers of the skin)
• POM treatments applied topically for cosmetic purposes, such as prescription strength vitamin A and hydroquinone for the treatment of pigmentation problems or for skin whitening
• electrocautery
• the combination of 2 or more technologies to create a hybrid device. For example, the combination of radiofrequency and microneedling to treat lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, acne scars and stretch marks
• cryotherapy and/or any cryocautery procedure that freezes the skin in order to remove skin lesions such as skin tags, age spots and warts

Can only be carried out by qualified and regulated healthcare professionals working out of CQC registered premises. 

Such procedures would not be included within the local authority licensing scheme.

We propose this includes, but is not limited to, the following procedures:

• all thread lifting procedures, including PDO thread and cog lifts
• hair restoration surgery
• procedures aimed at augmenting any part of the body, in particular the breast, buttocks and genitals, typically using autologous fat or dermal fillers
• dermal micro-coring
• hay fever injections for reducing redness or blotches on the skin
• the combination of ultrasound and large bore cannula for the purposes of liposuction
• deeper chemical peels such as phenol peels
• lasers which target the deeper layers of the dermis. For example, CO2 lasers, where used for extensive fully ablative resurfacing
• the provision of any green or amber procedure where the circumstances of the provision meet the criteria for the procedure to be classed as the CQC regulated activity of treatment of disease, disorder or injury (TDDI)
• all intravenous injectables and infusions