Non-surgical cosmetic procedures

Resources

Ahpra and National Boards are reforming the regulation of registered health practitioners who work in the cosmetics sector in Australia, to improve practice and standards, public safety and informed consumer choice.

After extensive public consultation, we have published the Guidelines for practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures and the Guidelines for advertising higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

These guidelines further strengthen safeguards across the cosmetic industry and require:

patient welfare before profit
training and education for some professions before they can perform cosmetic procedures
better protection for younger Australians, and
no airbrushed photos or misleading advertising.

Resources to help practitioners comply with the guidelines when performing non-surgical cosmetic procedures and when advertising non-surgical cosmetic procedures have been developed.

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Why did Ahpra and National Boards develop new guidelines for non-surgical cosmetic procedures?

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The cosmetic procedures sector has unique features that increase public risk. The guidelines will provide clarity for relevant health practitioners working in this sector and clarity for consumers undergoing non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Some of the unique features of the non-surgical cosmetic procedures sector included:

a lack of clear information about the qualifications and experience of practitioners in the sector
advertising that minimises the risk and complexity of a procedure or implies unrealistic results
high numbers of young and potentially vulnerable people seeking the procedures
generating demand and ‘upselling’ procedures and products
financial gain competing with and sometimes outweighing patient wellbeing and safety
ongoing cost and frequency of procedures required by patients to maintain outcomes.

Who will the guidelines apply to?

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The practice guidelines will apply to registered health practitioners who work in this area of practice, including but not limited to nurse practitioners, registered nurses, enrolled nurses, dental practitioners, podiatrists and Chinese medicine practitioners.

The advertising guidelines will apply to all those who advertise higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed by registered health practitioners. Advertisers may include businesses, medical practitioners, dentists and nurses.

What to ask before a cosmetic procedure?

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What to do if a cosmetic procedure goes wrong?

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Call our Cosmetic Surgery Hotline 1300 361 041 or visit the Cosmetic Surgery Hub