Check who is providing an aesthetic treatment before you book
ERS says complaints about aesthetic healthcare increasingly involve unqualified practitioners and facilities that do not meet the requirements for regulated health activity.
Archived after its publication day. Search retains this original briefing for background and accountability.
Archived 12 September 2026A polished social-media profile or a low price does not establish clinical competence, authorised premises, informed consent or a safe plan for complications.
- ERS imposed two precautionary suspensions in the first half of 2026 and reports 21 since 2023.
- The regulator also issued two activity-prohibition orders in the first half of 2026, bringing the total since 2023 to eight.
- The person, profession, premises and specific treatment all need to be checked.
- Urgent symptoms after a procedure require clinical assessment, not only a message to the seller.
Four checks before paying
Ask for the full name and professional registration of the person who will perform the procedure, not only the business name. Confirm that the premises are registered for the relevant healthcare activity and that the proposed treatment falls within the professional's lawful competence.
Request written information about the product or device, realistic benefits, material risks, aftercare, complaint route and who handles a complication. Time-limited discounts should not replace a proper assessment and consent process.
What to do when something feels wrong
Do not proceed if the provider will not identify the practitioner, pressures you to pay immediately or cannot explain emergency arrangements. Keep advertisements, invoices, consent forms, product details and messages because they can matter if a complaint follows.
For an immediate health concern, use appropriate clinical care or emergency services. Complaints about a healthcare establishment can be sent to ERS; suspected criminal conduct or professional misconduct may also require a different competent authority.
What you can do now.
- 01
Verify the practitioner and facility before paying a deposit.
- 02
Ask for risks, aftercare and complication arrangements in writing.
- 03
Keep the invoice, consent record and product details.
- 04
Seek urgent medical help for serious symptoms.
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