Campaign Victory: Government Takes Bold Action to Restrict Dangerous Liquid BBL Procedures

Save Face is proud to announce a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to protect patients and combat unsafe cosmetic practices. After nearly two years of relentless campaigning, we welcome the government’s decisive move to restrict high-risk procedures like liquid BBLs, acknowledging the serious, life-threatening risks they pose to the public.

This landmark decision reflects a strong commitment to safeguarding consumers from unqualified practitioners operating in dangerous environments. The new regulations will ensure that these high-risk treatments are only performed by qualified healthcare professionals, significantly reducing the risk of complications, injuries, and fatalities caused by untrained operators.

We’ve supported over 750 individuals who have faced traumatic, often irreversible consequences from these unsafe procedures. Every victim of unregulated liquid BBL procedures and their families will carry that trauma for a lifetime. These procedures don’t just cause physical harm—they cause devastation, impacting every aspect of a person’s life.

These women and their families are the reason Save Face is so committed to making this campaign a reality, so that no one else should have to suffer at the hands of morally bankrupt practitioners. Our campaign was reinforced by a petition that gathered over 25,000 signatures, demonstrating the widespread public support for urgent change.

While it’s a victory to see the government prioritising this ban, we understand that restrictions will take time to come into effect fully. In the meantime, it’s vital that the public only seek high-risk treatments such as liquid BBLs from GMC-registered plastic surgeons operating in reputable, regulated clinics.

Following the action on high-risk procedures like BBLs, the government has signalled plans to review regulations around facial fillers and Botox. However, this process is likely to be lengthy. Until then, consumers should only trust practitioners who are properly qualified and regulated. The public can rely on Save Face, the UK’s most trusted and longest-established public register, to find safe, reputable practitioners for facial aesthetic treatments.

Ashton Collins, Save Face Director, said:
I am delighted that the government has recognized the significant and potentially fatal risks posed by procedures like liquid BBLs and has made it a priority to introduce restrictions to prevent further tragedy.

After nearly two years of relentless campaigning, we have supported over 750 women who have suffered harrowing outcomes. Our petition, amassing nearly 25,000 signatures, underscores the urgent demand for change. I have seen firsthand the devastating impact these procedures can have on victims and their families, particularly the family of Alice Webb.

Over the past year, it has been a privilege to spend time with her family. Witnessing the profound devastation her loss has caused has fuelled my determination to push this campaign forward and fight for lasting change. Alice’s family has been a cornerstone of support for our campaign, and as the legislation moves toward enactment, we fervently hope it will bear her name, honouring her life and legacy.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to her family and all the victims who have bravely shared their stories to illustrate the devastating impact these procedures can have when they go wrong. Without their courage and support, this vital change would not have been possible.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the government and key stakeholders in the next stages of this process, working to create a safer landscape for the public and promote high industry standards.

As the largest and longest-established Professional Standards Authority-accredited register, we have over ten years of data from practitioner and clinic audits, patient complaints, adverse reactions, and complications. This extensive insight enables us to support the government in developing legislation that puts public safety at the core of industry regulation.

In memory of Alice Webb, her family has supported our campaign for this critical change:

For us as a family the last year has been a living nightmare that we know will never end.

We are relieved that the government is now finally taking action to ban these unregulated BBL procedures and a new law will be put in place to restrict BBLs to healthcare professionals. For this we would like to thank Ashton from Save Face for her tireless efforts in bringing this about.

We hope this new law will prevent other families from going through the trauma and unbearable heartbreak that we have endured since Alice tragically died last September.

This would give us some small degree of comfort. In years to come, Alice's children will know that their Mum's death was not in vain. Other lives will be saved.

This is Alice's legacy....

Alice's Law

April Webb Alice's Sister

“Losing Alice was the most devastating experience of my life, and I’ve seen firsthand how dangerous unregulated procedures can destroy the lives of victims and their families. Thanks to the relentless efforts of the Save Face campaign for Alice’s Law, we are finally seeing the government take meaningful action to protect others from the same tragedy. This victory is a crucial step forward to ensuring no family has to endure the heartbreak we have,” said Dane Knight, Alice Webb’s partner.

We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported this campaign.

As we move forward, Save Face remains committed to working with all stakeholders to build an industry where high standards are the norm and patient safety is always the top priority.

Additional Notes

The new regulations will be subject to public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny before they are introduced.
The government will also work closely with stakeholders to develop further proposals for consultation on introducing the licensing regime for lower-risk procedures to seek views on education, training standards, qualifications, infection control and insurance.
The government’s commitment follows a consultation launched in September 2023, which received almost 12,000 responses. This was the first consultation on proposals for strengthening regulation in this space. The government will run further consultations, as there are many issues to consider in designing the regulation which were not within the remit of this initial consultation.
The new measures will also be instrumental in saving the NHS money by reducing the work following failed procedures, helping deliver value for the taxpayer.
The measures come as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), local authorities and NHS continue to investigate after a number of people had adverse reactions following cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin. This is another reminder for the public to ensure they are receiving products licensed for use in England and only administered by practitioners sufficiently trained.

Click here to read the Government's Press release.

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