New rules for Australian health practitioners who administer cosmetic injectables have come into effect today.
Practitioners must now ensure that under-18s seeking injectables wait seven days between an initial consult and a procedure, and social media testimonials have been banned.
These new rules apply to non-surgical cosmetic procedures, which include things like Botox, and lip fillers.
Practitioners
Under the new rules, nurses need to complete an additional year of full-time practice under supervision before becoming qualified to independently perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Health practitioners must also provide more comprehensive information to patients. The information must not “glamorise cosmetic procedures” or “minimise their complexity”.
The information must also not “overstate results or imply the person can achieve outcomes that are not realistic”.
Under 18s
Queensland is the only Australian jurisdiction that has legislated a ban on performing a cosmetic procedure on a child.
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However, the National Boards (a group of boards for each health profession) explicitly say that Botox and fillers should not be prescribed for cosmetic purposes for those under 18.
The new rules mandate a seven-day ‘cooling-off period’ after a minor’s initial consultation.
Practitioners aren’t permitted to accept payment for procedures during this ‘cooling-off’ time, and they must refer under-18s to an independent health practitioner to discuss their reasons for seeking the procedure.
Practitioners are also expected to give greater consideration to the views of parents or guardians.
Advertising produced by the cosmetic industry aimed at those under 18 is completely banned.
Social media
There is now a complete ban on social media influencer testimonials.
This includes a ban on health practitioners providing free or discounted procedures for the promotion of cosmetic procedures.
There are also stricter advertising rules, which must not glamorise procedures, understate the complexity, or overstate the results.
