Aesthetic Pharmacy and Harmonization: CFF Rules

Anyone who searches "can a pharmacist do facial harmonization" finds opposite answers, many from people with a direct interest in the topic. The safest path is to look at the rules of Brazil's Federal Pharmacy Council (CFF) one by one, with number, date and subject, and then see what the courts have said about them.

This page makes that map. Status checked on October 20, 2026, in CFF publications and CRF-SP guidance. It does not state what a pharmacist may or may not do: it reports what the rules and known decisions say and points to where to confirm. For any professional decision, consult the Regional Pharmacy Council (CRF) in your region. This page is not legal advice.

What is the legal basis for pharmacist practice?

Law No. 3,820/1960 created the CFF and the regional councils and gave them the role of overseeing the practice of the profession. On the basis of that law, the CFF issues resolutions on areas of practice, such as aesthetic health.

The point in dispute is the same one that appears in biomedicine and dentistry: the council maintains that its resolutions organize what training and the law allow; medical bodies maintain that invasive procedures would be acts reserved for physicians, based on Law No. 12,842/2013, the Medical Act Law. The CFF, in turn, argues that the presidential vetoes of that law removed from the list of reserved acts interventions up to the subcutaneous level, such as injections. The same debate, from the side of other councils, is in facial harmonization in biomedicine and in facial harmonization and the CFM.

Which CFF resolutions cover aesthetic health?

Law No. 13,643/2018, cited in 669/2018, regulated the professions of aesthetician, cosmetologist and aesthetics technician. The annexes of 616/2015 and 645/2017 detail techniques and resources; read the full text on the CFF website before relying on any item, because the list and the interpretation are under judicial dispute.

What did the suspension of 573/2013 change?

According to CRF-SP guidance, procedures provided for only in 573/2013, such as cosmetotherapy, electrotherapy, iontophoresis, non-ablative laser therapy, intense pulsed light, aesthetic radiofrequency and sonophoresis, cannot be performed on the basis of it while the suspension lasts. The same guidance says the suspension does not prevent a qualified pharmacist from working in aesthetic health and assuming technical responsibility for an aesthetics establishment, on the basis of the other resolutions.

In the clarification note of June 21, 2024, the CFF stated that the STF reaffirmed the suspension of 573/2013, that it would appeal and that qualified professionals remain backed by Resolutions 616/2015 and 645/2017.

What did the 2025 ruling decide?

Up to October 20, 2026, we found no official news on the judgment of that appeal. What counts is the procedural progress and the guidance of your CRF, not the headline.

What qualification does the CRF require?

According to CRF-SP guidance on Resolution 645/2017, the pharmacist must:

1. Complete a lato sensu postgraduate course in aesthetics recognized by the MEC or a free course in the field recognized by the CFF. Being enrolled is not enough.
2. Register the specialist title with the CRF and have the registration approved.
3. Inform the CRF of all professional ties, even when another professional is the technical manager of the place, as required by the Pharmaceutical Code of Ethics.

Other CRFs may have their own procedures. To choose training, see how to evaluate a facial harmonization course and anatomy course for facial harmonization.

Where can the aesthetic pharmacist practice?

Aesthetic activity requires an establishment licensed for that purpose:

• Health license issued by the local health surveillance authority. See health permit for a facial harmonization clinic.
• Certificate of Technical Regularity from the CRF for the activity.
• Compatible CNAE (Brazil's economic activity code); CRF-SP cites the aesthetics activity (9602-5/02). See CNAE for a harmonization clinic.

A pharmacy or drugstore does not work as an aesthetics consulting room. Law No. 5,991/1973, in art. 55, prohibits using any part of a pharmacy or drugstore as a consulting room or for any other purpose than its license, and ANVISA (Brazil's health regulator) Resolution RDC No. 44/2009 repeats the prohibition.

What about advertising?

The Pharmaceutical Code of Ethics and advertising rules apply to the promotion of aesthetic procedures. The general principles, such as not promising results and not presenting the projection as if it were a result, are in what you may advertise according to CFO and CONAR, which carries the logic of CONAR (Brazil's advertising self-regulation body), applicable to any profession. For the specific pharmacy rule, consult the CFF and your CRF.

How do you follow the rules without depending on a post?

1. Read at the source, on the CFF website.
2. Check whether the rule was amended: 616/2015 was reworded by 645/2017.
3. Follow your CRF, which oversees and guides application in the state.
4. Follow the case of the CFM lawsuit at the TRF1.
5. Note the date of each consultation.

And in Harmy?

Compliance checklist for the aesthetic pharmacist

1. Texts of 616/2015, 645/2017 and 669/2018 read on the CFF website.
2. Status of 573/2013 and of the CFM lawsuit checked on the date.
3. Specialist title registered and approved with the CRF.
4. Professional ties reported to the CRF.
5. Place with a health license and certificate of regularity.
6. Practice outside a pharmacy or drugstore.
7. Patient record, consent and lot record per patient.
8. Advertising reviewed against the Code of Ethics and advertising rules.