Just Released – Advance Copy – Ahpra Guidelines – ‘Advertising Higher Risk Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures’

Just Released – Advance Copy – Ahpra Guidelines – ‘Advertising Higher Risk Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures’

As part of continued work by Ahpra and National Boards to reform the regulation of registered health practitioners who work in the cosmetics sector in Australia, today Ahpra and the National Boards have published advance copies of guidelines for anyone who is advertising higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

The Guidelines for advertising higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures (advertising guidelines) build on existing responsibilities for practitioners and advertisers and are based largely on the Medical Board’s Guidelines for registered medical practitioners who advertise cosmetic surgery. The new advertising guidelines reiterate how existing requirements apply to the advertising of higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures particularly in relation to misleading advertising, the use of images or testimonials in advertising and advertising which may create an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment. The advertising guidelines also contain information about the Board’s expectations of how practitioners will conduct themselves in advertising higher-risk cosmetic procedures, building on the existing responsibilities of practitioners.

Publishing these advance copies provides time for practitioners, the public and other stakeholders to understand the guidelines prior to them taking effect.

The advertising guidelines have been published in conjunction with Guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform cosmetic procedures (the shared practice guidelines), which do not apply to medical practitioners, but which set similar obligations for all other registered health professionals to those already required of medical practitioners.

All advertising must comply with the new guidelines by the time they come into effect on Tuesday 2 September 2025.