Choosing a practitioner
Who can legally do lip filler in the UK, and how to check your practitioner
The rules on who can inject lip filler are looser than most people expect. Here’s what the law does and doesn’t say, and the questions that tell you far more than a price list ever will.
Written by Adrianne Hunt, [[ASK: role as on certificate, Q9]] · Reviewed [[ASK: date she approves the page]]
The short answer
In England, there’s currently no law that says who can inject lip filler, as long as the client is 18 or over. A practitioner doesn’t legally need a particular qualification, registration or licence. That doesn’t mean anyone should, and it means the checking falls to you. The questions further down will tell you most of what you need to know.
This guide covers England, where I practise. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
What the law does say
- Filler is for adults only. Since 1 October 2021 it has been a criminal offence in England to give cosmetic filler injections to anyone under 18, and for a business to arrange it, which includes booking the appointment. Parental consent makes no difference. (Source: legislation.gov.uk.) A practitioner should ask for photo ID. If they don’t, that tells you something.
- Filler isn’t a prescription-only medicine, which is why you don’t need a prescription for it and why practitioners from many backgrounds can offer it.
- There’s no licence yet. The government has said it plans a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, but as of October 2026 it hasn’t started. No one can hold a licence today, so be wary of anyone who says they’re “licensed”.
- The CQC doesn’t regulate it. The Care Quality Commission doesn’t currently regulate cosmetic injections, and Bristol City Council doesn’t currently require registration for them.
Ten questions to ask any practitioner
- What training have you done for this treatment, and can I see the certificate? Look for the course name, level, training provider and date, and for training specific to lips or filler.
- Are you insured for this treatment, here? Insurance should cover injectable filler and the place you’re being treated, including a home, if that’s where it happens.
- Which filler will you use, and can I see the box? You’re entitled to know the product’s name and batch number. Fillers should come from authorised suppliers, and counterfeits do circulate.
- Will I have a consultation first? A proper consultation covers your health history and what you’d like, and ends with an honest answer about whether treatment is right for you, plus time to think if you want it.
- Will you check my ID? If you’re 18 or over this is quick. If they don’t ask, they’re not taking the law seriously.
- What would you do if something went wrong? Rarely, filler blocks a blood vessel, and that has to be recognised and treated quickly. Ask what their emergency plan is, whether they keep an emergency kit, and how you can reach them after hours.
- Are you on a register? Voluntary registers such as the JCCP and Save Face list practitioners who meet their standards (Save Face only accepts registered healthcare professionals). Not being on one isn’t automatically a warning sign, but you can check any membership number you’re given.
- Where will the treatment happen? It should be a clean, private room with hand-washing facilities, by appointment. NHS advice is to avoid services that treat people in places such as private homes or hotels, and group treatments or events involving alcohol. My treatment room is in my home, so that advice applies to me too, which is why I publish my house rules and answer questions about the room before anyone books.
- What exactly will it cost? You should know the total price before treatment, and how any deposit works. Be wary of offers that pressure you to decide quickly.
- What aftercare will I get? Written aftercare to take home, a way to contact them afterwards, and ideally a review once the swelling has settled.
Warning signs
- No consultation, or treatment straight after a quick message.
- No ID check.
- They won’t tell you which product they’re using.
- Offers that end tonight, or a price that changes if you “book now”.
- Treatment at a party, as part of a group booking, or with alcohol involved.
- Promises that a treatment carries no risk, won’t hurt or will last for ever.
- Pressure to have more filler than you asked for.
- No way to contact them after your appointment.
A note on deposits
The NHS advises not paying for a procedure until you’ve had a consultation. A small booking deposit that’s refunded in full if treatment isn’t right for you is different from paying for the treatment itself, but ask how any deposit works before you pay it. Mine is set out in my booking and deposit policy.
How I answer these questions
My training and insurance are listed on my About page, with certificates available on request.
[[ASK: Q31]] I use [[ASK Q31: brand]], and I’ll show you the box and batch number on the day.
My house rules, and the way the treatment room runs, are there too.