The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has put the ‘booming billion-dollar cosmetic industry on notice’ with new cosmetic procedures guidelines coming into effect on 2 September – with advance copies available now.
Ahpra declared Australians ‘undergoing cosmetic procedures such as anti-wrinkle injections and fillers will have greater protections under sweeping guidelines being introduced across the industry’.
Ahpra explained ‘with more professions being enticed to the lucrative cosmetic procedures industry, the regulator is future-proofing the system by having guidelines for all registered health practitioners’.
Further training or education will be necessary for many practitioners wanting to expand their scope of practice into non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
And young Australians will be protected with targeted advertising banned and a seven-day cooling off period for those under the age of 18.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Chair Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey said the safety of the Australian public is paramount, noting ‘these types of procedures are undertaken every day and can have serious consequences if not done correctly. No practitioner should put their bottom line ahead of patient welfare, and these guidelines place the focus squarely on the safety of those in their care.’
Ahpra emphasised the new protections ‘highlight that many practitioners need more than just the foundational qualifications included in their initial training before they can safely perform non-surgical procedures like cosmetic injections’.
It noted further training or education will be necessary for those practitioners wanting to expand their scope of practice.
Nurses will also be required to complete a set period of practice before expanding their scope to include non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Ahpra said while cosmetic procedures ‘remain out of scope for many practitioners, the guidelines will now apply to all regulated professions, future-proofing those that may join the lucrative cosmetic industry’.
Medical Board of Australia Chair Dr Susan O’Dwyer said ‘these guidelines make sure we’re all working from similar play books for the safety of our patients. We’re also raising the bar for anyone advertising these procedures, making it simpler for consumers to make safe and informed decisions.’
The advertising changes include a focus on higher risk procedures by:
- requiring advertisements to contain information about the practitioner performing the procedures;
- strengthening the ban on the use of testimonials from social media influencers; and
- putting measures in place to stop the trivialisation or sexualisation of a cosmetic procedure.
Those under age 18 considering non-surgical cosmetic procedures will have a mandatory seven-day cooling off period between their first consultation and any procedures, while advertising aimed at under 18s will be totally banned.
Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner summed up: ‘This industry relies heavily on a social media presence. So practitioners have been put on notice that their advertising must comply with the new guidelines when they come into effect later this year.’
*Aesthetic Medical Practitioner #42 will include a comprehensive summary and analysis of the new Ahpra guidelines.
