Make an informed decision
Choose a qualified practitioner
Choose a qualified medical practitioner who is skilled and experienced in performing your surgery.
Choose a licensed facility
Make sure your surgery will take place in a licensed facility.
Know the risks
It is important to understand the risks of the surgery and the plan for your recovery.
Resources
Discover a collection of resources including a patient safety checklist and a list of questions to ask before cosmetic surgery.
Before your cosmetic surgery
Doing your research before cosmetic surgery is essential. Make sure you have reliable information about who will be doing the procedure and where it will take place. Talk to your GP for advice or a referral.
To make a safe and informed decision about your cosmetic surgery, you should:
- choose an appropriately qualified medical practitioner
- check your surgery will take place in a licensed facility
- understand the risks of the surgery
- understand the plan for your recovery
- know what to do if something goes wrong.
Need to make a confidential complaint?
If you have concerns about the outcome of your surgery or quality of care, call the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) Cosmetic Surgery Hotline on 1300 361 041 (Monday to Friday, 9AM-5PM AEST).
In an emergency, seek treatment at a hospital emergency department or call 000.
What is cosmetic surgery?
Cosmetic surgery changes a person’s physical appearance.
Cosmetic surgery refers to procedures that involve cutting beneath the skin, such as:
- breast implants
- tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
- nose surgery (rhinoplasty)
- surgical face lifts.
Some cosmetic procedures do not involve cutting beneath the skin, such as:
- cosmetic injectables (such as dermal fillers)
- laser skin treatments
- dermabrasion
- cryolipolysis (fat freezing).
These are still called cosmetic procedures because they change a person’s physical appearance. The terms “cosmetic surgery” and “cosmetic procedure” are often used interchangeably.
Finding credible information
To make an informed choice about cosmetic surgery, you should rely on credible sources of information.
Reliable sources of information include:
- your healthcare professional
- government health websites, including the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care or your state or territory health service.
- the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
Unreliable sources of information can put your health at risk. Be wary of information from:
- social media
- online reviews
- patient testimonials.
These sources are not always factual, credible or genuine. Patient testimonials are often used to sell a service, rather than provide accurate information. They do not indicate the level of expertise, quality, or safety of a service. Remember, other people’s experiences may not be typical and might be different to yours.
Look closer before you sign the dotted line
Look closer before you sign the dotted line.
Make sure you’re informed before you have cosmetic surgery.
Authorised by the Australian Government Canberra.
Look closer before you sign the dotted line (extended)
Look closer before you sign the dotted line.
Make sure you’re informed before you have cosmetic surgery.
Authorised by the Australian Government Canberra.