Media release: Patient safety concerns raised over growing ‘cosmetic tourism’ trend
A warning about the risks of ‘cosmetic tourism’ – when people travel abroad to access surgical and cosmetic procedures – has been issued by the regulator for private healthcare clinics in Scotland.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland is highlighting the possible dangers associated with people travelling abroad for treatments, amidst a growing number of information events across Scotland inviting people to sign up for treatments abroad.
Information days are increasingly being held in hotels and venues across Scotland offering treatments including hair transplants and aesthetic and weight loss surgeries in countries including Turkey, Brazil and Thailand.
Laura Boyce, Chief Inspector of Regulation at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said:
“Our advice to the public is to avoid engaging in health tourism as evidence consistently shows increased risks of complications, when medical procedures are undertaken in countries and settings with variable clinical standards and limited post‑operative follow‑up.
“We urge anyone looking to get cosmetic interventions to think about their health and wellbeing and seek their care from a regulated provider.
“Clinics registered and regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland can be found on our website and patients can use this information to support their decision making in finding a quality assured service.”
Chief Inspector of Regulation at Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Travelling abroad for cosmetic or surgical procedures face a number of risks including:
- higher rates of infection and postoperative complications
- variable clinical standards compared with requirements in Scotland
- limited or no continuity of care, particularly where complications emerge after travel
- increased burden on NHS Scotland when individuals return requiring urgent corrective or emergency care
These risks reinforce the importance of ensuring that treatment, particularly those involving injectables, invasive non‑surgical procedures, or procedures carrying higher complication of risks are accessed through regulated and registered providers within Scotland.
There are over 500 registered and regulated clinics across Scotland, the vast majority providing cosmetic procedures. To access, Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s register of regulated private clinics, visit our website: Find an independent healthcare provider or service – Healthcare Improvement Scotland
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Notes to editor
Healthcare Improvement Scotland is the national improvement agency for health and care in Scotland. We provide independent assurance of the quality and safety of the care provided by Scotland’s health and care system and measure how outcomes for people are improving and inequalities reducing. With partner organisations, we will consider how services are working together as an integrated system to implement improvements.
Proposed legislative changes, including the Non‑surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill, are currently being debated in Parliament and aim to strengthen public protection by regulating a defined set of non‑surgical cosmetic and wellbeing procedures.
The Bill proposes making it illegal to provide certain procedures to under‑18s and restricting these procedures to ‘permitted premises’.
It will also give Healthcare Improvement Scotland enhanced powers to investigate concerns where unregulated practice is suspected.
The reforms reflect strong public and professional support for tighter regulation to ensure safety, hygiene, and appropriate clinical oversight.
Further link which may be of interest:
The BMJ (2025) Cosmetic tourism: patients must be safeguarded from the dangers