London councils receive hundreds of complaints linked to harmful aesthetic procedures

London councils have received hundreds of complaints related to businesses carrying out potentially harmful aesthetic procedures, according to new data.

Freedom of Information requests by VIP Italia have revealed that 117 complaints linked to non-surgical cosmetic procedures were made to London borough councils between January 2021 and May 2026.

The complaints related to clinics and practitioners providing treatments such as dermal fillers, botulinum toxin injections, and non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts - with some even alleging injury or receiving hospital treatment.

Islington recorded the most complaints, with 20, followed by Westminster with 16, Barnet with 11, Havering with 10 and Wandsworth with 9.Councils also recorded 41 allegations involving injury, infection, hospital treatment, unsafe practice or other medical complications.

Wandsworth recorded the most, with 10, followed by Barnet with 7, Kensington and Chelsea with 5 and Westminster with 3.

Councils reported 208 investigations, inspections or visits linked to non-surgical cosmetic procedures, with Havering accounting for 142 of these.

Enforcement responses included 27 warning or advice letters and 18 prohibition notices.

There is no current regulation as to who can perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as injectables

PA

The findings come amid renewed scrutiny of the non-surgical cosmetics industry following the case of Jordan James Parke, who styled himself as the “Lip King”.

Mr Parke was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of 33-year-old Alice Webb, who became seriously unwell after undergoing a liquid BBL in September 2024. He was never charged.

Reports have since shown that Mr Parke had been subject to prohibition notices preventing him from carrying out certain procedures in Dudley and Salford, but continued to operate elsewhere.

Mr Parke died in Canary Wharf in February 2026, with police investigating information that suggested he may have been undergoing a cosmetic procedure at the time.

Jordan James Parke

@jordanjamesparke2 /Instagram

Anastasia Lesnikova, an Aesthetics Product Expert at VIP Italia, said: “People can hear the words “non-surgical” and assume a procedure carries very little risk. But these figures show why people still need to take cosmetic treatments seriously.

“Councils have received allegations involving injuries, infections, hospital treatment and other complications, and in a number of cases they have had to take enforcement action.

“We need regulation that reflects the size and complexity of this industry. A consistent licensing system, with clear minimum standards for practitioners and premises and effective enforcement when those standards are breached, would give patients greater protection and make it easier to identify responsible providers.

“The priority has to be making sure people can make an informed choice and know that the person treating them is properly trained and operating to an appropriate standard.”