In an attempt to drive out "rogue" practitioners, beauty parlors and clinics providing Botox treatments and "filler" injections to plump up lips or smooth sagging skin are to be controlled for the first time, with the initiative from the Government.

Only clinics with qualified staff and good facilities will now be listed by medical regulators and cosmetic treatment industry. Moreover, only doctors, dentists and nurses will be invited to apply for registration, which will allow them to present a certificate of approval to prospective patients as evidence of the safety and quality of their service.

Demand for cosmetic treatment has seen a steep rise in recent years and there are about 5,000 clinics now, carrying out an estimated 200,000 Botox and filler treatments a year in the UK.

Andrew Vallance-Owen, chairman of the regulatory scheme established by the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service, said yesterday, "This is excellent news for the consumer and properly qualified practitioners. With an estimated growth of 25 per cent in treatments last year alone, the industry and the Department of Health recognized the need to safeguard patients by creating a system of registration and certification".

Though major cosmetic surgeries are regulated, non-surgical treatments like Botox and filler injections can be offered by any high street business.