New Reforms Make Cosmetic Surgery Safer in Australia
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) have announced a number of new reforms to make cosmetic surgery safer in Australia.
The reforms, which come into effect on July 1, 2023, include:
- Requiring GP referrals before all cosmetic surgery. This will ensure that patients have a chance to discuss the risks and benefits of surgery with their doctor before making a decision.
- Tightening advertising guidelines. Cosmetic surgery ads will no longer be allowed to downplay the risks of surgery, use testimonials, or create an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment.
- Introducing a new endorsement on registration for doctors who have completed a recognized cosmetic surgery training program. This will provide patients with a clear signal that a doctor has the necessary skills and experience to perform cosmetic surgery safely.
The reforms are part of a wider package of measures to improve the safety of cosmetic surgery in Australia. They follow a public consultation in December 2022 and act on the recommendations made by last year’s independent review of cosmetic surgery regulation.
The MBA and AHPRA said the reforms would help to ensure that patients have access to safe and high-quality cosmetic surgery. They also said the reforms would help to protect the public from unscrupulous practitioners who are not qualified to perform cosmetic surgery.
