Original studyCosmetic cowboys crackdown continues with new restrictions, 2026Read the paper →
Are liquid BBLs being banned? Not outright, but the government wants to take them out of salons and hotel rooms. The Department of Health and Social Care has announced plans that would allow only doctors to carry out liquid Brazilian butt lifts, limit other high-risk cosmetic procedures to trained healthcare professionals, and stop under-18s from having them.
Short answer: There is no outright ban for adults. Under the proposals, fillers injected anywhere other than the face, including liquid BBLs, would legally count as cosmetic surgery, so only doctors could perform them. Under-18s would be barred from cosmetic surgery and other high-risk procedures, and providers who break the rules could face unlimited fines.
What the new rules would change
The highest-risk procedures would be legally defined as cosmetic surgical procedures. This covers fillers injected into the body rather than the face, such as the liquid BBL, in which filler is injected into the buttocks to change their size or shape.
A second group of high-risk non-surgical or well-being treatments would be limited to doctors, dentists, and some nurses, midwives, and pharmacists. This group includes deep chemical peels, vampire facials, dermal micro-coring, and some laser procedures. Nurses, midwives, and pharmacists would need to have completed an accredited course that legally allows them to prescribe medicines.
Are liquid BBLs being banned for young people?
For under-18s, yes. The plans would stop anyone under 18 from having cosmetic surgery or other risky cosmetic and well-being treatments. Fillers are already restricted for children under a separate law.
Fines and a loophole closed
The government says the line between surgical and non-surgical procedures has become increasingly blurred. That has allowed poorly qualified practitioners to perform high-risk procedures in hotel rooms without any regulatory oversight, and the new rules aim to close the gap.
Providers who break the rules could be taken to court under new criminal offences. They could face unlimited fines or fixed penalties of up to £4,000.
The move follows a string of reports of unregulated surgeries and procedures carried out by unqualified practitioners. The patient safety campaign Save Face, which has pushed for tougher rules since 2023, linked the loophole to life-threatening complications, including one death after a liquid BBL. The British Beauty Council and a cosmetic doctor quoted in the announcement also welcomed the plans.
Why it matters for body image and mental health
Many people seek cosmetic work because of how they feel about their appearance, so a procedure that goes wrong can add distress to physical injury. The cosmetic doctor quoted by the government described under-18s as a vulnerable group. Psychreg has looked before at the emotional questions to ask before plastic surgery, why realistic expectations matter with lip fillers, and how social media fitness culture is linked to body image anxiety.
What happens next
The government is opening a consultation on the draft regulations and wants views from clinicians, regulators, businesses, the public, and other experts. The plans are due to go through Parliament in spring 2027.
Separately, the government says it is still committed to a licensing scheme for clinics offering Botox, lip filler, and other lower-risk treatments. That scheme would require them to meet strict safety standards.
FAQ
Can I still get a liquid BBL in the UK? For now, yes. The proposals are out for consultation and are not yet law. If they pass, only doctors could perform them.
Will Botox and lip fillers be covered? Not by these rules. The government plans a separate licensing scheme for those lower-risk treatments.
