Ministry of Health warns Uzbeks about fake cosmetologists

The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan has issued a warning to citizens about the growing number of unlicensed cosmetologists offering services advertised on social media and through beauty salons.

According to the ministry, an increasing number of complaints have been received from women who suffered complications after undergoing procedures such as chemical peels, laser hair removal, Botox injections, mesotherapy, and facial massages from unqualified practitioners.

“There are complaints on social media from women who visited cosmetologists to correct facial imperfections but instead faced unexpected problems,” the ministry said in its statement.

Currently, 147 non-governmental medical organizations in Uzbekistan are officially licensed to provide medical cosmetology services, 94 of which are located in Tashkent. However, the number of uncertified beauty salons and cosmetology establishments is much higher.

“While the growth of beauty and health services is welcome, cosmetology is a licensed medical field that should only be performed by qualified doctors. Unfortunately, we are seeing more salons and private clinics offering services with certificates that have no legal validity,” the statement noted.

Investigations revealed that none of the licensed organizations recorded serious complications, while most complaints submitted to law enforcement agencies were linked to unlicensed operators. Experts warn that uncertified practitioners often lack proper medical training, use unregistered products, and operate without approved medical equipment.

“The main issue is that individuals without the necessary education are offering medical cosmetology services in various centers that are neither beauty salons nor certified medical organizations,” said Ulugbek Sobirov, director of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology.

Many of these practitioners are registered as individual entrepreneurs or self-employed persons, meaning their work is beyond the scope of healthcare authorities’ supervision.

To address the problem, the Ministry of Health has drafted a new regulation defining the procedures for providing medical cosmetology services and setting stricter requirements for practitioners.

Given the rising number of incidents, the ministry strongly urges citizens to seek services only from state medical institutions or officially licensed private medical organizations.

Earlier, the ministry had also cautioned the public against fake doctors operating in the healthcare sector.