# How to choose a cosmetic clinic safely in Australia *Digital Pages Editorial · 2026-08-03* Since 20 September 2023, it has been illegal for a medical practitioner to call themselves a "surgeon", including "cosmetic surgeon", unless they hold specialist registration in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, or ophthalmology, and clinics that haven't scrubbed the title from their websites and signage are already out of step with the law. The reform closed a gap that let doctors with only general registration, or a short cosmetic course, market themselves with a title patients reasonably assumed meant years of surgical specialist training. Misusing the protected title now carries a maximum fine of $60,000 or three years' imprisonment, or both, under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Surgeons) Amendment Act 2023. That single rule change is a useful filter, but it's only the first of several checks worth doing before you commit to a clinic, a procedure, or a deposit. ## Who is actually allowed to call themselves a surgeon? Only medical practitioners holding specialist registration in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, or ophthalmology can use the title "surgeon" in any form, according to the Medical Board of Australia. This includes GPs who perform cosmetic procedures, doctors with general registration, and rural specialist GPs who provide surgical services but haven't completed specialist surgical training. A cosmetic surgery endorsement, which AHPRA has been rolling out to mark practitioners who've completed accredited cosmetic surgery training, also does not entitle anyone to use the title "surgeon" on its own. If a website, business card or clinic window still says "cosmetic surgeon" and the practitioner doesn't hold one of those three specialist registrations, that's a direct breach you can report to AHPRA. ## How do I check a practitioner's registration and endorsement? Search the practitioner's name on AHPRA's national register of practitioners. The register shows whether they hold general or specialist registration, which specialty (if any), and any conditions or restrictions on their practice. If you can't find them, ask for their registration number directly and check it against the register yourself, don't take their word for it. The register alone won't tell you how experienced someone is in the specific procedure you want. AHPRA recommends asking directly about their qualifications, how many times they've performed the procedure, and their rates of complication or revision surgery, on top of confirming registration status. See our [AHPRA registration check guide](/kb/ahpra-registration-check) for a step-by-step walkthrough. ## What are the rules for injectables and non-surgical procedures? Botulinum toxin (Botox) and dermal fillers are Schedule 4 prescription-only medicines. Only an authorised prescriber, usually a medical practitioner, dentist or nurse practitioner, can prescribe them. The prescriber must consult with you, either in person or by video, before every treatment episode, take your full history, and confirm the procedure is safe before going ahead. The prescriber doesn't have to administer the injection personally. They can prescribe it for someone else to carry out, typically a registered nurse or an enrolled nurse working under supervision, but they remain responsible for confirming that person is authorised under state and territory drugs and poisons legislation and has the skills to do the job safely. New AHPRA and National Board guidelines for practitioners performing and advertising non-surgical cosmetic procedures took effect on 2 September 2025. They require practitioners, including nurses, to complete further training before expanding their scope of practice into cosmetic injections, beyond whatever qualified them for general practice in their profession. Ask to see the injectable's brand name and check it against the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). Counterfeit product imported from overseas is illegal, difficult to identify, and has caused serious harm in Australia. ## What advertising restrictions apply? Under the guidelines that came into effect in September 2025, advertising for higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures must use real, unedited images, and any advertisement that uses before-and-after photos must carry a warning that results vary between patients. Testimonials from social media influencers are banned. Advertising cannot target people under 18, and anyone under 18 considering a non-surgical cosmetic procedure has a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period between their first consultation and the procedure itself. If a clinic's marketing leans heavily on dramatic transformation photos, influencer endorsements, or countdown-style booking pressure, that's worth treating as a warning sign rather than a selling point. ## What is the cooling-off period, and does it apply to me? For cosmetic surgery, a cooling-off period of at least seven days applies after you give consent, before you can book the procedure or pay a deposit. This applies regardless of your age. For non-surgical procedures such as injectables, the mandatory seven-day cooling-off period specifically applies to patients under 18, alongside the advertising ban aimed at that age group. Any clinic pushing you to book or pay on the day of your consultation, before that cooling-off period has run, isn't following the current rules. ## What should I ask about complications? Before any procedure, ask what happens if something goes wrong: what the short and long-term risks are, how complications are managed, and what emergency processes the practitioner has in place. For injectables specifically, ask how you'd recognise a complication that needs urgent attention, since side effects for dermal fillers can include vascular occlusion, a blocked blood vessel that can cause tissue death or, rarely, permanent vision loss. For surgical procedures, confirm the facility is appropriate for the level of risk involved and for your own risk profile. A procedure carrying real surgical risk shouldn't be performed somewhere that can't manage an emergency. ## What are the red flags? Walk away, or at minimum ask more questions, if you notice any of the following: the practitioner isn't listed on AHPRA's register, or their registration doesn't match what they've told you; the venue looks more like an apartment than a clinic; you're pressured to pay or book before the cooling-off period has elapsed; the advertising uses influencer testimonials or heavily edited before-and-after photos; or nobody will tell you what medicine or device brand is actually being used. AHPRA's own advice is direct: if something doesn't feel right about where you're having a procedure, you always have the right to say no. ## FAQ **Can any doctor legally call themselves a cosmetic surgeon?** No. Since 20 September 2023, only medical practitioners with specialist registration in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, or ophthalmology can use the title "surgeon", including "cosmetic surgeon". A general registration, a cosmetic surgery endorsement, or GP training does not qualify a practitioner to use the title, even if they perform surgical procedures. **Do I need a GP referral for cosmetic surgery?** Yes. Since 1 July 2023, anyone considering cosmetic surgery needs a referral from their usual GP before the first consultation with the practitioner who will perform the procedure, even if that practitioner is a specialist plastic surgeon. **How long is the cooling-off period before cosmetic surgery?** At least seven days must pass between giving consent and booking or paying for the surgery. For non-surgical cosmetic procedures, patients under 18 have a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period between their first consultation and the procedure. **Who is legally allowed to inject Botox or dermal fillers?** Botulinum toxin and dermal fillers are Schedule 4 prescription-only medicines. Only an authorised prescriber, usually a medical practitioner, dentist or nurse practitioner, can prescribe them, and they must consult with you in person or by video before every treatment episode. They can administer the injection themselves or prescribe it for a suitably qualified person, typically a registered nurse, to carry out. **What should I do if I think a clinic is breaking the rules?** Check the practitioner on AHPRA's national register first. If they aren't listed, or you have concerns about how a procedure was advertised or performed, you can make a notification to AHPRA directly through ahpra.gov.au. --- Browse [cosmetic clinics](/cosmetic-clinics) or [beauty clinics](/beauty-clinics) on Digital Pages, or read our guide to [checking a practitioner's AHPRA registration](/kb/ahpra-registration-check) before you book. ## FAQ **Can any doctor legally call themselves a cosmetic surgeon?** No. Since 20 September 2023, only medical practitioners with specialist registration in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, or ophthalmology can use the title 'surgeon', including 'cosmetic surgeon'. A general registration, a cosmetic surgery endorsement, or GP training does not qualify a practitioner to use the title, even if they perform surgical procedures. **Do I need a GP referral for cosmetic surgery?** Yes. Since 1 July 2023, anyone considering cosmetic surgery needs a referral from their usual GP before the first consultation with the practitioner who will perform the procedure, even if that practitioner is a specialist plastic surgeon. **How long is the cooling-off period before cosmetic surgery?** At least seven days must pass between giving consent and booking or paying for the surgery. For non-surgical cosmetic procedures, patients under 18 have a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period between their first consultation and the procedure. **Who is legally allowed to inject Botox or dermal fillers?** Botulinum toxin and dermal fillers are Schedule 4 prescription-only medicines. Only an authorised prescriber, usually a medical practitioner, dentist or nurse practitioner, can prescribe them, and they must consult with you in person or by video before every treatment episode. They can administer the injection themselves or prescribe it for a suitably qualified person, typically a registered nurse, to carry out. **What should I do if I think a clinic is breaking the rules?** Check the practitioner on AHPRA's national register first. If they aren't listed, or you have concerns about how a procedure was advertised or performed, you can make a notification to AHPRA directly through ahpra.gov.au. ## Sources - [Medical Board of Australia — FAQ: Protection of the title 'surgeon'](https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/FAQ/FAQ-Protection-of-the-title-surgeon.aspx) - [AHPRA — Thinking about having cosmetic surgery? Information for the public](https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Information-for-the-public.aspx) - [AHPRA — Putting patients first: new guidelines for cosmetic procedures](https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2025-09-02-New-guidelines-for-cosmetic-procedures.aspx) - [AHPRA — Fact sheet on injectables](https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Information-for-the-public/Thinking-about-cosmetic-injectables.aspx) - [AHPRA — Register of practitioners](https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx)