In response to growing concerns over unsafe practices in the cosmetic sector, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has introduced new requirements for dentists and nurses.
Those performing non-surgical cosmetic injections must now complete additional education and training before administering treatments such as botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. New rules mandate a minimum of one year’s nursing experience outside cosmetic procedures and prohibit influencer testimonials and targeted advertising towards minors.
Registered practitioners must also be named in all promotional material. These measures come after reports of unlicensed providers using substandard products, including a case in which three women were hospitalised in Sydney with suspected botulism, believed to have received unregulated anti-wrinkle injections. Regulators warn that non-compliance will result in enforcement actions starting September 2025.
Justin Untersteiner, CEO of AHPRA, commented, “There will be others who have to modify their business models and their practices to meet these guidelines. This is a growing specialty, and what we do see in some cases is that there are people out there putting profit before patient safety.”
