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Acupuncture, skin piercing and tattooing

If you wish to carry out acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis in our area, you must first register with us.

Once you are registered by us to carry out one of more of these activities you can operate from any premises in the Borough that has also been registered by us to be used for the same purpose.

These regulations exist to ensure that you meet the relevant health and safety standards and lessen the risk of infection.

We register individuals and premises separately. This helps to reduce administrative burdens on businesses and their employees as it means that a premise used for a regulated activity only needs to be registered once for that purpose. It also means that individuals, once registered, do not need to register again if they move to work within a different registered premise in the area.

Registered businesses are required to comply with adopted byelaws for the purpose of securing the cleanliness of registered premises, of the fittings in those premises, and of persons registered and also the cleaning and sterilisation of instruments.

Applications

Personal registration

To apply for a personal registration you will need to complete the personal registration application form. All applications for registration must be accompanied by copies of any relevant qualifications that are held.

 

Premises registration

To apply to register a premises you will need to complete the personal registration application form.

The current fees for both personal and premises registration can be found in our list of fees and charges.

Forms and documentation

Completed application forms should be returned to: The Licensing Department, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Public Services Centre, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5TT.

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please get in touch.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures

Anyone considering having a non-surgical cosmetic procedure should carry out thorough research beforehand and be aware that there are serious health risks if things go wrong.

Non-surgical aesthetic procedures are currently unregulated, meaning people who are not medically trained can carry out procedures.

But the procedures still require a sterile clinical environment and should be performed in appropriate treatment rooms to reduce the risk of infections.

Practitioners should be trained and know what to do if there are complications.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures may include:

  • Botox or filler injections
  • Microdermabrasion
  • Chemical Peels
  • Non-Surgical Laser Treatment (Laser Lipo and Laser Hair Removal)
  • Thread-lifts
  • Brazilian Butt Lift, BBL or Liquid BBL

Some people who’ve had these procedures have unfortunately experienced issues including excruciating pain and infections, which have required medical interventions and hospitalisation.

In September 2023 the government carried out a consultation around a national licencing scheme for some aesthetic procedures. View the list of procedures under review.

View more information on non-surgical cosmetic procedures:

If you have concerns about a clinic or practitioner offering these services locally, or you’ve had complications following one of these procedures, please contact licensing@tewkesbury.gov.uk