Health professionals performing non-surgical cosmetic procedures in Australia will soon face stricter training and advertising rules under new national guidelines designed to protect patients from harm.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) released an advance copy of the new guidelines on Tuesday. These rules will apply to regulated health workers—excluding doctors—who carry out procedures like botox injections and dermal fillers.
Set to take effect on 2 September, the guidelines expand existing rules that already govern medical practitioners. Those were introduced in 2023 by the Medical Board of Australia.
Alongside the new practice standards, AHPRA also published advertising guidelines. These include a complete ban on marketing higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures to anyone under 18.
Associate Professor Caroline Johnson, a GP and senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne, said the new boundaries are necessary.
“This is an industry that should be very carefully regulated because there are risks for consumers,” she told newsGP.
“Without proper oversight, these procedures can pose both physical and mental health risks. I’m glad to see stronger regulation.”
AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said the guidelines are “a big step” towards better protecting patients.
“These new rules are about putting patient safety before profit. They ensure health practitioners are properly trained and that risks are not downplayed,” he said.
Under the changes, enrolled nurses (ENs) must work for one year to build basic skills, then complete another 12 months in a related clinical field before performing cosmetic procedures.
ENs will also be barred from injecting fillers in high-risk areas such as the glabella (between the eyebrows), nose, and forehead. Other high-risk areas like the temples, under-eye area, and cheeks will require a clinical setting with immediate access to a prescriber or a registered nurse (RN).
ENs must be supervised by an RN. Supervision by a GP or any other medical practitioner will not meet the standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Procedures covered by the guidelines include:
- Botulinum toxin (botox)
- Dermal fillers
- Fat-dissolving injections
- Thread lifts
- Sclerotherapy and microsclerotherapy
- CO₂ laser skin resurfacing
- Cryolipolysis (fat freezing)
- Laser hair removal
- Dermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Hair transplants
AHPRA noted that it’s impossible to list all higher-risk cosmetic procedures, as the industry is constantly evolving with new techniques.
To protect young people, the new advertising rules will also enforce a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period between an initial consultation and any procedure for patients under 18.
“This industry relies heavily on social media, and we’re putting practitioners on notice,” Untersteiner said. “Advertising must follow these new rules from the moment they come into effect.”
Speaking to the ABC, he said the regulator has received reports of serious injuries from cosmetic injectables, including permanent facial nerve damage and strokes. The new standards, he said, make it clear that proper training in facial anatomy is essential.
“This isn’t something you learn over a weekend,” he added.
AHPRA has faced growing pressure to tighten regulation of cosmetic procedures since the 2021 Four Corners program Cosmetic Cowboys exposed serious safety concerns and misconduct.
While earlier reforms focused on surgical procedures, the regulator broadened its scope in 2023 to include non-surgical interventions.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) had raised alarms about the lack of regulation as early as 2015, warning of risks to patient safety in a letter to the Medical Board of Australia.
Between September 2022 and March 2025, AHPRA received around 360 notifications related to non-surgical cosmetic procedures. These included complaints involving doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, psychologists, and Chinese medicine practitioners.
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