22 May New Regulations for Cosmetic Surgery
New Medical Board, AHPRA Regulations – Effective 1st July 2023
Important Notice for Patients on Regulations for Cosmetic Surgery
Starting from the 1st of July 2023, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) and Medical Board of Australia are implementing a series of new regulations aimed at enhancing the safety and quality of cosmetic surgery procedures while safeguarding patients.
The primary objective of these strengthened regulations is to provide increased protection for patients and elevate the overall standards of care within the realm of cosmetic surgery.
Outlined below are the key changes that will be introduced:
- All patients seeking a consultation for cosmetic surgery will be required to obtain a referral from a General Practitioner (GP).
- A minimum of two consultations will be mandatory prior to undergoing any cosmetic surgery.
- Patients will be subjected to a pre-screening assessment test (PAT) to identify any potential Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) concerns.
- A cooling-off period of at least seven days will be implemented after the patient has signed the consent form, ensuring sufficient time for reflection before finalising surgery arrangements, including making payments or deposits.
- The informed consent process will involve a more comprehensive and detailed document.
- Doctors will be held to higher standards in terms of their training and experience, with stricter requirements for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- Accredited facilities will be a mandatory requirement for performing cosmetic surgery.
- New regulations will be enforced regarding the use of medical titles such as “Surgeon.”
- Stricter advertising standards will be implemented for cosmetic surgery procedures.
It is crucial for all medical practitioners, nurses, and consumers to stay updated with these new regulations. As more information becomes available, it will be provided through ongoing updates on this blog.
For additional information, please refer to the Medical Board Website FAQs on “Reforms at a Glance” or contact us directly for further details
If you have already booked your surgery for after 1st July 2023, our team will contact you if there are any changes to your current arrangements.
