NSW Report on the Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Procedures

NSW Report on the Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Procedures

NSW Health has finalised its review of the regulation of cosmetic procedures in NSW.

The review was announced by the NSW Minister for Health, the Hon Brad Hazzard MP, in September 2017 following the death of a woman who underwent a non-surgical breast augmentation procedure at a beauty clinic in inner-Sydney.

The review report is available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/patients/cosmetic/Publications/review-cosmetic-procedures.pdf

The report makes nine recommendations to strengthen the existing regulations and make it safer for consumers. The key recommendations include:

  • Creating a new offence for a person such as a medical practitioner to perform certain surgical cosmetic procedures in an unlicensed private health facility.
  • Introducing tighter regulations for the prescribing, use, storage, access, and administration of medicines commonly used in cosmetic procedures or outside the normal models of medical treatment.
  • Imposing additional regulations on extreme body modification procedures, such as sub-dermal implants or tongue splitting, that are carried out by non-medical practitioners.

All of the recommendations have been, or are in the process of being, implemented.

In the meantime, NSW Health is urging consumers to speak with their GP before undergoing a cosmetic procedure and to check the qualifications and experience of the person performing the procedure. It is also advising consumers to check whether the procedure they are considering is on the list of treatments that must be performed at a licensed private health facility. Licensed private health facilities are listed on NSW Health’s website and should display a copy of their licence.’


Media enquiries: Sandra Renowden 0403823218 or email sandra@mohrpr@com.au

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