Non-surgical cosmetic procedures

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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.

Ahpra and relevant National Boards are proposing to develop the following new guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform and/or advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures:

Guidelines for nurses who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures (nurses practice guidelines)
Guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures (shared practice guidelines)
Guidelines for registered health practitioners who advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures (advertising guidelines) (for all relevant practitioners, including nurses and medical practitioners)

The guidelines will set out what National Boards expect of practitioners who are performing and/or advertising non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) intend to develop nursing-specific practice guidelines, building on their Position statement on nurses and cosmetic medical procedures. The NMBA’s practice guidelines will be similar to the other National Boards’ guidelines for practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures, and consultation on all the guidelines is planned to occur at the same time.

Public consultation now closed

Ahpra and National Boards consulted on proposed new practice and advertising guidelines. Submissions will be published on the Ahpra website soon.

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Why are Ahpra and National Boards developing 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 include:

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 proposed guidelines apply to?

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The proposed 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 proposed advertising guidelines will apply to all registered health practitioners who advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including medical practitioners and nurses.

What are the proposed guidelines likely to cover?

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New guidelines will be informed by the Medical Board’s work on the following guidelines which came into effect on 1 July 2023:

Guidelines for registered medical practitioners who perform cosmetic surgery and procedures (Medical Board’s practice guidelines)
Guidelines for registered medical practitioner who advertise cosmetic surgery (Medical Board’s cosmetic advertising guidelines)

You are encouraged to read the section relating to non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the Medical Board’s guidelines to understand the areas likely to be included in proposed guidelines.

For example, the Medical Board’s guidelines cover some of the following areas:

Medical Board’s practice guidelines	Medical Board’s cosmetic advertising guidelines
Conflicts of interest Patient suitability Patient consultation type Additional responsibilities for patients under the age of 18 Informed consent Prescribing and administering prescription only cosmetic injectables Patient management Provision of patient care/consultations by other health practitioners Complaints Training and experience Qualifications and titles Facilities Financial consent and financial arrangements.	Practitioner responsibility Titles and claims about expertise and qualifications Financial and other incentives Testimonials Social media influencers and ambassadors Use of images including ‘before and after’ images Risk, recovery and idealising cosmetic surgery Body image Realistic expectations of outcomes Targeting people potentially at risk.

Medical Board’s practice guidelines

Medical Board’s cosmetic advertising guidelines

Conflicts of interest
Patient suitability
Patient consultation type
Additional responsibilities for patients under the age of 18
Informed consent
Prescribing and administering prescription only cosmetic injectables
Patient management
Provision of patient care/consultations by other health practitioners
Complaints
Training and experience
Qualifications and titles
Facilities
Financial consent and financial arrangements.

Practitioner responsibility
Titles and claims about expertise and qualifications
Financial and other incentives
Testimonials
Social media influencers and ambassadors
Use of images including ‘before and after’ images
Risk, recovery and idealising cosmetic surgery
Body image
Realistic expectations of outcomes
Targeting people potentially at risk.

When will these changes apply?

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Changes will not apply until the proposed guidelines have been subject to public consultation and approval by National Boards. Consultation is occurring from 27 November 2023 to 2 February 2024, and finalisation of the proposed guidelines is likely to be sometime in 2024.

What does this mean for practitioners who currently perform and/or advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures?

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We know most health practitioners are already doing the right thing to keep the public safe.

In the meantime, while the proposed guidelines are under development, registered health practitioners¹ who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures should ensure their practice aligns with their National Board’s code of conduct and any other relevant guidance.

Further, nurses who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures should ensure their practice aligns with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Position statement on nurses and cosmetic medical procedures.

In addition, dental practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures should ensure their practice aligns with the Dental Board of Australia Fact sheet: The use of botulinum toxin and dermal fillers by dentists and Guidance for registered dental practitioners: Using and supplying teeth whitening products.

All registered health practitioners are also encouraged to read the Medical Board’s practice guidelines.

In the meantime, registered health practitioners who advertise non-surgical cosmetic procedures should:

ensure advertising complies with:
- the National Law advertising requirements
- any obligations set out in the National Boards’ codes of conduct
- the Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service
- Social media: How to meet your obligations under the National Law
read the Medical Board’s cosmetic advertising guidelines.

¹Registered medical practitioners are already subject to the Medical Board’s guidelines https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Cosmetic-medical-and-surgical-procedures-guidelines.aspx

Information for the public

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What to do if a cosmetic procedure goes wrong?

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