Cosmetic physicians have said they will reopen their clinics to provide procedures like anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers after the Anzac Day long weekend.
Dr Michael Molton, president of the Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia, told The Australian newspaper medical practices offering cosmetic procedures “voluntarily closed down in early April” after deciding it may be difficult to follow the social distancing requirements to halt COVID-19.
However, he emphasised the profession has now “acted responsibly” and worked out a consensus to meet “the necessary restrictions and protocols that protect the public”.
Dr Molton noted it was only “dedicated medical facilities”, and not beauty salons, that are preparing to open “in a graded way” and with limited procedures available.
“Things like lip fillers will be out because obviously it’s too close to where community transmission comes from”, he explained. But some laser procedures, dermal fillers to other areas of the upper face, and migraine treatment will resume.
Dr Molton said “my particular clinic has been closed since the shutdown (on April 1). Yesterday we returned for the first time and there were about 250 emails from people asking when we will be open.”
Dr Molton said members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and dermatologists are also drafting protocols to define the circumstances under which cosmetic procedures could resume, including use of protective equipment, asking patients about COVID-19 symptoms before they arrive, temperature testing and having distance markers of the floor.
