From June 1st, 2025, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will officially enforce a ban on remote prescribing for treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections in the UK.

It’s a big moment for the aesthetics industry and a major move toward more regulation, accountability, and, most importantly; client safety. 

While some may see this as an additional hurdle for aesthetic practitioners (or clients needing an extra trip to a clinic), the long-term benefits for both professionals and the public are so important, and fight against the rise in ‘botch jobs’ that use unlicensed, unprescribed products.

 

Why the ban is necessary

Remote prescribing allowed certain medical professionals to prescribe medication for aesthetic treatments as anti-wrinkle injections without meeting the client in person.

In theory, this could be done through video consultation or phone call, although it has always been a grey area.

For some practitioners and clients however, good remote prescribers helped people work around busy lives, whilst it was important for rural clinics that are far away from a prescriber. 

Despite these valid reasons, it meant that dodgier practitioners were using this to get away with using even dodgier products. 

We’ve seen the rise in adverse reactions to unlicensed products and it’s so dangerous for us all who get treatments. Understandably, anyone involved in the industry is worried when clients aren’t put first. 

The new regulation closes this remote loophole and ensures that clients are seen face-to-face by a qualified prescriber before any such treatment is administered.

The British Beauty Council and the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) have both been pushing for tighter regulations, and now they’re appearing.

Here’s why it’s important they do.

 

1. It’s a step towards further aesthetic professionalism

Aesthetics has exploded in popularity over the last decade, with treatments like anti-wrinkle injections (like Botox or Azzalure) and dermal fillers becoming accessible. 

However, this accessibility has meant a rise in unregulated providers, with many lacking proper training, insurance, and who use unlicensed products.

The NMC banning remote prescribing is one of many much-needed ways to encourage professionalising the industry. 

It brings aesthetics more in line with mainstream healthcare, where patient safety and ethical prescribing are non-negotiable. 

Your GP wouldn’t prescribe antibiotics without first seeing a patient in person, so we agree there’s no reason why powerful neurotoxins (like anti-wrinkle injections) should be treated any differently.

 

2. It safeguards us all

This ban is simply to protect us all.

Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medication (POM) for a reason. It affects the nervous system and, while highly effective when used correctly, can cause harm if misapplied. Yet we still see people trying to sell it for 3 areas for £70, or certain viral practitioners doing it in the back of cars!!

If clients see a qualified prescriber in person, the new rules make it more difficult for untrained, unethical providers.

This helps eliminate the use of illegal products (which is common in our industry) and ensures each treatment is suitable for the client, medically justified, and tailored to their unique anatomy and health history.

 

3. It rebuilds trust in the aesthetics industry

Aesthetics is dealing with a reputation issue due to a minority of practitioners who bend the rules and go viral for it.

Horror stories of “botch jobs” get the headlines, undermining trust in everyone by association. But these stories should get the headlines. With more light in darker corners of the industry, it’ll weed out the bad practitioners, and leave the good ones.

Each new regulation rebuilds trust and shows everyone that the industry is serious about safety.

 

4. It supports ethical clinics and practitioners

Aesthetic clinics that hold high standards (like us at Perfectly You Co) are likely to welcome this regulation.

It validates the work of ethical professionals who prioritise client safety, used licensed products, and operated within the legal framework.

The ban levels the playing field.

Doing things the right way means years of study, achieving the right qualifications, products, and licenses. Yet sometimes it feels like you’re fighting a losing battle when some practitioners don’t care, do a one day course and buy illegal products (and people still trust their face to them!!)

Yes, this ban means adjustments for genuinely good practitioners who relied on remote prescribing (and we’ve also used remote prescribing in the past to work around returning client’s busy lifestyles). 

But it supports a more sustainable, respected, and trusted aesthetic industry, and that’s worth the adjustment period.

 

5. It encourages better training and qualifications

As regulations tighten, the barrier to entry into aesthetics will rise. 

This is a good thing. 

It encourages aspiring practitioners to seek proper qualifications, do in-depth training, and gain clinical experience before offering treatments. 

This professionalisation mirrors the standards seen in other healthcare sectors and positions aesthetic medicine as a serious medical discipline, not a beauty trend.

It also gives clients clearer criteria when choosing a provider. 

Knowing that a clinic requires face-to-face assessments by licensed prescribers gives clients peace of mind that they are in safe, qualified hands.

 

What clients need to know

For clients, this change may mean an additional step before treatment, but it’s a step worth taking. 

Here’s what to look for:

 

  • Face-to-Face Consultation: You must be seen in person by a prescriber before receiving any anti-wrinkle treatment from June 2025.

 

  • Licensed Practitioner: Ensure your practitioner is qualified and registered with a relevant body (NMC, GMC, GPhC), or has gone through extensive training to be at the required standard.

 

  • Genuine Products: Don’t feel bad about asking about the product being used; it’s your face after all!. It should be a licensed brand, sourced from a UK pharmacy.

 

Anti-wrinkle injections have always required a face-to-face practitioner consultation with it being a POM, but now face to face is required with the prescriber, too. 

It means an extra trip, but helps keep you safe.

 

Our final thoughts

The NMC’s ban on remote prescribing is more than just a regulatory update; it’s a landmark decision marking the beginning of a safer, more ethical future for UK aesthetic medicine.

In some instances, genuine providers, prescribers and their clients will require an extra trip to their local clinic, which in some cases, could be a very long way. I honestly feel for the good practitioners and clients in this situation, as remote prescribing was a valuable tool to work around people’s busy lives, but that trust has been lost due to dodgy practitioners and their botched jobs. 

At Perfectly You Co, we welcome this change. We believe in delivering high-quality, medically sound treatments in a safe, ethical environment. As the industry evolves, we’ll continue to champion standards that protect our clients and elevate the profession.

For our clients, we’ll ensure that we put on a half day a week where a prescriber will come into our 57 Rodney St clinic, or at a partner location in Liverpool City Centre, which is already standard for most. Not much will change, but we want to know we’ll always follow every new regulation.

Because when it comes to your face and your health, we’ll ensure we do everything by the book. 

Aesthetics An Anti-Wrinkle