New AHPRA Cosmetic Guidelines 2025: What Patients in Melbourne Need to Know

In September 2025, AHPRA and the National Boards introduced the most significant regulatory changes to nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in Australia in years. The new guidelines came into effect on 2 September 2025 and apply to every registered health practitioner who performs or advertises cosmetic injectable procedures. For patients considering treatment, understanding what changed and what it means for your experience at any clinic is worthwhile.

At Core Aesthetics in Oakleigh, these guidelines align directly with how the clinic has always operated. This article explains the key changes in plain English from a patient perspective.

What the New Guidelines Changed

The September 2025 guidelines introduced several patient facing changes that are directly relevant to anyone seeking cosmetic injectable treatment in Australia.

Real time consultations are now required before every prescription

Under the new guidelines, every injectable prescription must be based on a real time consultation with the patient. This means in person or via video, conducted at the time of assessment. Asynchronous prescribing where a prescription is issued based on a text message, email, online questionnaire or photograph is no longer acceptable practice for registered health practitioners. This change was introduced because of well documented safety concerns about patients receiving injectable treatment without any direct clinical assessment of their suitability.

At Core Aesthetics, every appointment begins with an individual consultation. This has always been the standard. Nothing is prescribed or administered without Corey assessing your individual circumstances in person.

Stricter training and experience requirements for practitioners

The guidelines now require registered health practitioners to have appropriate, procedure specific education, training and experience before performing cosmetic procedures. For registered nurses wanting to expand their scope of practice into cosmetic injectables, a minimum of 12 months of full time general nursing practice is now required before they can perform these procedures. Ongoing continuing professional development in cosmetic procedures is also mandatory.

This is significant context when choosing a practitioner. Experience and clinical background matter. Corey Anderson has been AHPRA registered since January 1996 (NMW0001047575), bringing nearly three decades of registered nursing experience to every consultation. You can verify his registration at any time on the AHPRA public register.

Stricter advertising standards

The new guidelines introduced significant changes to how cosmetic procedures can be advertised. The use of testimonials from social media influencers in advertising cosmetic procedures is now banned. Advertising cosmetic procedures to individuals under 18 is prohibited. Advertisements for higher risk cosmetic procedures must now include information about the practitioner performing them, including their qualifications and registration. The trivialisation or sexualisation of cosmetic procedures in advertising is expressly prohibited.

For patients, this means advertising you see from compliant clinics should be noticeably more clinical and less aspirational in tone. If you encounter a clinic whose advertising makes dramatic claims, uses influencer content or implies guaranteed results, these are now not just poor practice signals but non compliant under the new guidelines.

A 7-day cooling off period for under-18s

The new guidelines introduced a mandatory 7-day cooling off period between the initial consultation and any procedure for clients under the age of 18. This means that even if a consultation has been conducted and treatment has been deemed appropriate, no procedure can be performed within 7 days of that first appointment for clients under 18.

Read more about what the cooling off period means in our dedicated article on AHPRA’s 7-day cooling off period for cosmetic procedures.

Patient suitability assessment requirements

The guidelines now specifically require practitioners to discuss a patient’s motivations and reasons for requesting a cosmetic procedure as part of the assessment process. This includes an obligation to identify any psychological factors, unrealistic expectations or vulnerability that might affect whether treatment is appropriate. Practitioners must ensure that patients have access to information about complaint mechanisms available to them, including the right to make a complaint to AHPRA.

What Has Not Changed

The fundamental regulatory framework has not changed. Cosmetic injectable products remain prescription only medicines regulated by the TGA. They may only be prescribed and administered by registered health practitioners following a clinical assessment. The requirement to obtain informed consent before any procedure remains in place. The principles of patient safety, practitioner accountability and ethical practice that underpin the entire framework have not changed. The September 2025 guidelines strengthened and clarified these principles rather than replacing them.

Why These Changes Matter for Your Choice of Clinic

The regulatory changes are, at their core, a response to documented concerns about inconsistent standards across the industry. Between September 2022 and March 2025, AHPRA received approximately 360 complaints and over 1,500 calls to its cosmetic surgery hotline. The new guidelines exist because patient safety was not consistently being prioritised.

For patients, the practical implication is that the guidelines make the consultation process more important than ever as a quality filter. A clinic that operates a genuine consultation first model, employs a practitioner with verified AHPRA registration, and advertises in a measured and clinically appropriate way is more likely to be operating at the standard the guidelines intend. Our guide to choosing a cosmetic clinic in Melbourne covers what to look for in more detail, and our patient safety page explains how Core Aesthetics approaches informed consent and clinical decision making.

For clients wanting to verify a practitioner’s AHPRA registration before booking, see our article on questions to ask your cosmetic injector before any treatment.

Core Aesthetics and the New Guidelines

Core Aesthetics in Oakleigh has always operated within the framework the new guidelines now require of all clinics. Every appointment begins with an individual in person consultation. Nothing is prescribed or administered without a direct clinical assessment. Advertising is conservative and clinical in tone. Corey Anderson’s AHPRA registration is publicly verifiable, his credentials are displayed on the site and his approach to informed consent and patient wellbeing is documented in our patient safety and consent guide.

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General Information Only. This article is general in nature and does not replace a consultation with a qualified health practitioner. Treatment outcomes, suitability and risks vary by individual. Any medical or prescription treatment options can only be discussed and provided where clinically appropriate following an individual assessment.