COSMETIC doctors have said a new licensing scheme for beauticians who carry out injectible treatments will "open the floodgates" to more unsafe treatments.

Salons offering lip and cheek fillers will be required to have a license under new government plans.

The Government said there is a “growing risk” as the number of unregulated premises - including beauty salons, aesthetic clinics, hairdressers and pharmacies - offering the treatments is increasing.

Ministers plan to bring in legislation to introduce a licensing scheme for people who are not healthcare professionals and carry out non-surgical treatments which penetrate the skin.

However, they stopped short of a ban, despite the Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Expert Group recommending procedures should only be carried out by a healthcare professional”. Ministers suggested it would be difficult to enforce and could drive un-regulated providers underground.

Read more: Glasgow 'botched Botox' beautician Alison McQuade facing fresh probe in Newcastle 

Dr Nestor Demosthenous, a leading cosmetic doctor, who consulted with the government over the plans, disagrees.

He said: "Unfortunately, I believe that this will open the flood gates to more of the same, and we will be in a much worse position, where anyone can train on a non-medical aesthetics course, call themselves an ‘advanced aesthetic practitioner’ and apply for a licence to practice.

"So much more needs to be done to keep patients safe.

Glasgow Times:

Private clinics offering treatments are now subject to inspections by Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

Dr Nestor said: "In my opinion, this consultation is disheartening. It fails to safeguard patients, which is what we are striving for.

"The consultation effectively suggests a two-tier system, where patients attending medical clinics receive the same standard of care as those attending a hospital (governed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland), yet those attending so-called ‘licensed’ premises receive a lesser level of care.

"It simply does not make sense."

Last year the Evening Times told how a beautician linked to ‘botched’ treatments in Glasgow was under investigation by trading standards officials in Newcastle. 

Alison McQuade, formerly of the Dash salon in Partick, started working under the name Megan Wright after leaving Scotland.

Two women came forward saying they had been left with problems after undergoing procedures including Beth Craigs (pictured, main image) who said she was left with ‘concrete lips.'

Ms McQuade is alleged to have fraudulently claimed she was a nurse - a criminal offence - to attend a training course in Glasgow in injectable facial treatments including Botox, which can only be administered by a health professional.

Read more: List of Glasgow aesthetic clinics registered with new watchdog 

It is not believed any action was taken against Ms McQuade, although Glasgow City Council said at the time it was investigating a complaint against her.

New regulations came into force last year which require independent clinics to register with Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) of face a hefty fine.

Public health minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “We plan to introduce regulations later this year and invite members of the public and interested parties to give their views as part of the consultation.”