Lots of appointments for wrinkles but none for moles? It's almost over. New rules to regulate the aesthetic activity of doctors, including a cap on dedicated working time, were made official this Saturday by a decree published in the Official Journal. Faced with the development of aesthetic medicine practices but also difficulties in accessing care, the government is defining a new framework to “strengthen patient safety, guarantee the quality of training and preserve medical time devoted to care”, according to a press release from the Minister of Health, Stéphanie Rist.
Doctors wishing to embark on this highly remunerative activity, and not reimbursed by Health Insurance, must have practiced fully for five years in their original specialty, then have followed compulsory qualifying training. The Order of Physicians will be responsible, in conjunction with the competent regional health agency, for verifying the qualifications, experience and conditions necessary for the issuance of this additional practice authorization.
Private doctors, employees and dermatologists targeted
The aesthetic medicine activity will be “limited to 30% of the medical activity of practitioners, the remaining 70% must be devoted to care and activities relating to their original specialty”, underlines the Ministry of Health. This cap will concern all medical specialties, including dermatology, as well as private and salaried doctors, whether or not approved by Health Insurance.
“While many French people still encounter difficulties in accessing a doctor, we must ensure that medical skills remain primarily mobilized to serve patients,” argues Stéphanie Rist, quoted in the press release, defending “a demanding framework”.
A request for additional exercise rights
Implementation will be “gradual”, according to the ministry. Doctors wishing to pursue an aesthetic activity must submit their request for additional practice rights “no later than July 1, 2027”, and may continue to practice while awaiting a decision from the Order of Physicians. Practitioners exclusively in aesthetic medicine for more than five years will have two years to gradually reduce this activity and return mainly to their original specialty in the following three years.
At the same time, the government promises to intensify the fight against the illegal practice of aesthetic medicine, particularly in the face of the proliferation of “fake injectors”, people illegally carrying out medical procedures for aesthetic purposes and who can expose patients to serious risks, likely to lead to hospitalization or even death. By the end of 2026, interministerial actions will be carried out in this direction, in conjunction with the ministries concerned and the competent ordinal bodies, according to the ministry.
“Prevent numerous abuses and better protect patients”
The National Council of the Order of Physicians welcomed, at midday, “a major step forward to supervise an activity in full development, prevent its numerous abuses and better protect patients”, seeing in the decree the “fruit of consultation work”.
He also assured, in a press release, that he was “already fully committed against “fake injectors””, highlighting 280 reports received since 2022 and around 80 reports sent to public prosecutors for illegal practice of medicine. The National Council is committed to “maintaining this action, by endeavoring to pursue what can henceforth be systematically characterized as illegal practices of medicine”.
