Cosmetic surgery

All independent clinics and hospitals that provide cosmetic surgery, or treatments that use lasers and intense pulsed light, must be registered and inspected by us. If you are thinking of having any of these treatments, this section can help you make an informed decision about whether to go ahead and which clinic or hospital to go to.


All independent clinics and hospitals that provide cosmetic surgery, or treatments that use lasers and intense pulsed light, must be registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission. If you are thinking of having any of these treatments, this section can help you make an informed decision about whether to go ahead and which clinic or hospital to go to.

Cosmetic procedures that must be registered with us

To help ensure that patients are treated safely and to reduce the risk of poor practice, anyone who provides any of the following procedures must be registered with us by law:

  • Face, neck or brow lifts
  • Liposuction
  • Tummy tucks and other types of body lift
  • Nose or ear reshaping
  • Weight loss surgery
  • Breast surgery
  • Any other type of cosmetic surgery involving full or local anaesthetic
  • Treatments that use lasers, such as refractive eye surgery
  • Treatments that use intense pulsed lights, such as cosmetic hair removal
  • Laser lipolysis (such as Smart Lipo)

Things to consider before making a decision

Cosmetic surgery of any sort should not be undertaken lightly. It’s important to remember that all surgery, including cosmetic procedures, involves risks. The fact that some can be done with very little ‘down time’ in an afternoon or even at lunchtime does no mean that they are risk-free. The speediness of some procedures can also lead to unrealistic expectations and therefore disappointment with the results. To protect yourself from risk of harm and possible disappointment, find out as much as you can about the provider and the procedure.

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Find out about the provider

  • Check that the hospital or clinic is registered with us. Search for their details on this site, or ask them to show you their registration certificate. It is very important that you do not sign up for cosmetic surgery at a hospital or clinic that cannot show you that it is registered with us.
  • Remember that if the hospital or clinic is not registered with us, their insurance may not cover them or you if anything goes wrong, because they are practising outside the law.
  • When you have made sure that the hospital or clinic is registered with us, find out more about the quality of their services. Start by looking at the report of our latest inspection, which accompanies their registration details on this site.
  • If you are considering plastic surgery, ask your GP to provide a referral to a surgeon. This will also ensure that your GP passes any important information about your medical history to the surgeon.
  • If you don’t want to involve your GP, make sure that you choose a qualified and reputable surgeon has been properly trained in the type of surgery you want. Check whether they are on the General Medical Council’s specialist register by visiting the council's website:

    GMC (opens in new window).

  • The hospital or clinic should offer you an initial consultation with the doctor who will carry out the procedure. Take a list of the questions you’d like to ask the doctor. Don’t be afraid to ask about their qualifications and expertise in the procedure, including how many times they have performed it, what are the risks, and how often do complications occur.
  • Make sure that the hospital or clinic will provide the care that you will need after the operation.
  • Ask them to give you a copy of their patient’s guide. This is a document that all cosmetic clinics and hospitals must provide. It gives details of all of the services they offer, the costs, and how patients can make comments and complaints.

Search our database of registered providers

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Find out about the procedure

Read as much as you can about the procedure that you are considering. You need to be sure that it is right for you and that you understand exactly what is involved, including any risks, side-effects and possible complications. Make sure that the information is from a reliable source. Here are some suggestions:

The Department of Health’s website (opens in new window) - explains more than 100 different types of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, with a detailed checklist of questions to ask the clinic and doctor before deciding.

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Other sources of information

British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) (opens in new window) - for information about a wide range of cosmetic surgery and a searchable database of member surgeons

British Association of Otolaryngologists/Head & Neck Surgeons (opens in new window) - for information on ear, nose and throat surgeons who perform cosmetic and facial plastic surgery

British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (opens in new window) - for information on ophthalmic surgeons who perform specialised plastic surgery of the eyelids, and face

British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons - (opens in new window) for Information about all major cosmetic surgery units in the UK and Ireland

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